The Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) deals with the carriage of packaged dangerous goods, solid bulk cargoes, bulk gas cargoes, and containers. It keeps updated the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The Sub-Committee also keeps under review other Codes including the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code). During this work the committee collaborates with other United Nations (UN) bodies dealing with the multimodal transport of goods.
The 7th session of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 7) met virtually with some delegates attending in person at the IMO building in London from 6-10 September 2021. The meeting was chaired by Ms MaryAnne Adams from the Marshall Islands. Here is a short summary of the key issues discussed:
Amendments to the IGF Code and development of guidelines for low-flashpoint fuels
The Sub-Committee agreed an updated work plan for the development of safety provisions for new low-flashpoint fuels under the IGF Code. The work plan envisages the development of guidelines for ships using hydrogen as fuel; the development of guidelines for ships using liquefied petroleum gas as fuel, the possible development of guidelines for ships using ammonia as fuel; and the development of draft amendments to the IGF Code for ships using natural gas. The work plan also envisages future discussions on the development of mandatory instruments regarding the use of methyl/ethyl alcohols as fuel and the development of mandatory instruments regarding fuel cells.
Amendments to the IMDG Code
The Sub-Committee agreed the next set of draft amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code which will be submitted to Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 105 for adoption (following finalisation by the Editorial and Technical (E&T) Group). The draft amendments to the IMDG Code include those required to take account of changes to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods which sets the basic requirements for all transport modes. The matters related to safe transport of charcoal and reviewing on maritime special provisions (SPs) will be continued by a correspondence group of which IUMI is a member. In this group IUMI supported the view that amendments to the IMDG Code be introduced so that all dangerous goods, including exempt dangerous goods under maritime SPs, be subject to appropriate documentation requirements.
Inspection programmes for CTUs
The Sub-Committee agreed the revised inspection programmes for cargo transport units (CTUs) carrying dangerous goods in order to broaden the inspection programmes for CTUs. The objective is to assist in the implementation of a uniform and safe inspection programme for the inspection of CTUs carrying goods for international transport by sea, and to provide guidance relating to such inspections in accordance with applicable IMO instruments. The guidelines cover various aspects of inspection, including documentation; structural safety; cargo, including marking and packaging; targeting methodology to identifying undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods; general safety and pest contamination considerations. The revised guidelines will be submitted to MSC 105 for approval.
Containers lost at sea
Under the agenda item “any other business” a proposal for a new output was submitted regarding containers lost at sea and to the related action plan to address marine plastic litter from ships. Due to time constraints it was agreed to defer all other documents under this agenda item to CCC 8.
