Carriage of dangerous goods

​​Dangerous goods in packaged form must be carried in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code).

The IMDG Code contains a list of dangerous substances and requirements for the marking, packaging, separation from other dangerous substances and location on board of the dangerous substance. Packaged dangerous goods are carried by dry cargo carriers, general cargo ships, container ships and ro-ro cargo and passenger ships.

Bulk cargoes are characterised by solid products consisting of a combination of particles, granulates or large pieces of material that is normally homogeneously structured and which is loaded directly into the hold of a ship without any type of intermediate packaging.

Such cargoes must be carried in accordance with the provisions of the IMSBC Code – The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code.

The carriage of bulk cargoes may involve a number of risk elements that can be attributed to the dangerous properties of the products carried. They may be products with dangerous properties or products which:

• can generate combustible, poisonous or harmful vapours during transport
• are especially heavy and therefore can harm the structure of the ship
• can "slide" in the hold and thereby affect the stability of the ship
• change their character during transport, for example sphagnum which can transform from solid to liquid form, etc.

Such cargoes are carried by sea on board bulk carriers, dry cargo carriers, barges, etc.

Dangerous, liquid chemicals are chemicals that are listed in chapter 17 of the IBC Code (International Bulk Chemical Code).
This list of chemicals states which type of ship is permitted carry the chemical. There are three types – 1, 2 and 3 – of which type 1 is permitted to carry the most dangerous substances.

Dangerous, liquid chemicals in bulk are carried by chemical tankers that meet the requirements of the IBC Code; however, oil tankers can be designed to transport a few type 3 chemicals; these products can be seen from their certification.

Any type of liquefied gas or other products listed in chapter 19 of the IGC Code (International Gas Carrier Code). This product list subdivides the products into four types – 1G, 2G, 2PG and 3G – where type 1G ships are permitted to carry the most dangerous products. Liquefied gas in bulk is carried on board gas tankers meeting the requirements of the IGC Code.

Class 7 material that is also covered by the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on board Ships (INF Code).

Ships carrying these cargoes must meet the provisions of Notice B from the Danish Maritime Authority and those of the INF Code. The ships are divided into three classes, where class 3 is the most dangerous one.

The cargoes are carried by dry cargo carriers meeting the requirements of the INF Code and holding an INF certificate.

Carriage by sea of radioactive goods, including INF cargoes