IMO: Non hazardous ammonium Nitrate-based fertilisers discussion split into two schedules

Overview

Progress was made at the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 5) largely due to contributions made by various delegations providing information and data on the different types of ammonium nitrate based fertilsers (ANBF) that are carried as non-hazardous, a Group C classification in the IMSBC Code.

The issue was raised after the recent incident of mv Cheshire and an earlier incident involving mv Purple Beach (2015) carrying these cargoes where suspect of self-sustaining decomposition of these cargoes had occurred.

After much discussion, the Sub-committee agreed that the non-hazardous ANBF will be split into two schedules; a Group C schedule and a new Group B (cargoes possessing chemical hazards) schedule with a MHB (materials hazardous only in bulk) classification. The splitting exercise will take into account information that was provided in the plenary.

This included the various types of ANBF products that could fall into one of the two schedules, possible criteria based on limiting the presence of ammonium nitrate and chloride contents to distinguish Group A from Group C ANBF cargoes, as well as the possibility of a new testing procedure for self-sustaining decomposition. 

BIMCO representatives from the Maritime Information Department attended the 5th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 5), held at the IMO London headquarters from 10 to 14 September 2018.

Peter Lundahl Rasmussen
in Copenhagen, DK

Coronavirus

Access BIMCO's COVID-19 related articles and advice.

Read more

 
 

ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO

Contracts & Clauses

All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.

Learn about your cargo

For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.

More about cargo

BIMCO Publications

Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.