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).
The 9th session of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 9) took place at the IMO in September 2023 and IUMI was represented by its Policy Director Hendrike Kühl. The meeting was chaired by MaryAnne Adams from the Marshall Islands. These were the key issues discussed:
Safety guidelines for alternative fuels
The CCC Sub-Committee plays a vital role in the development of technical provisions for alternative fuels and related technologies, ensuring that safety implications and potential risks associated with the use of alternative fuels and related technologies are duly addressed.
During its 9th session the Sub-Committee made progress on the development of draft interim guidelines for the safety of ships using hydrogen and ammonia as fuel. An intersessional working group will meet prior to CCC 10 in September 2024 to finalise the guidelines.
Guidelines already developed by the Sub-Committee include: Interim guidelines for the safety of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel; interim guidelines for ships using fuel cells; and interim guidelines for the safety of ships using LPG fuels.
Review of transport provisions for vehicles
Following discussions about the outcomes reported in the summary of the Correspondence Group on the Review of Transport Provisions for Vehicles, the correspondence group was re-established. It was tasked to continue exchanges about amendments to transport provisions for vehicles and to develop recommendations for the IMDG Code provisions concerning the transport of vehicles. Root cause analysis of previous incidents and identified risks and hazards should be taken into consideration. IUMI is represented in the CG.
Maritime transport of plastic pellets
As requested by the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Pollution and Response (PPR), the Sub‑Committee discussed a draft MEPC circular on recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers. CCC 9 agreed with the recommendation that plastic pellets should be packed in good quality packaging which should be strong enough to withstand the shocks and loads normally encountered during transport. Packaging should be constructed and closed so as to prevent any loss of contents which may be caused under normal conditions of transport by vibration or acceleration forces.
Several other proposals were discussed by CCC 9. The Sub-Committee invited the PPR Sub-Committee to take into account the discussion and the proposals submitted to CCC 9 in their further work to reduce the environmental risks associated with maritime transport of plastic pellets. The draft recommendations are expected to be finalised by PPR 11 in February 2024, for submission to MEPC 81 (spring 2024) for approval.
