Statutory guidance

MSN 1906 (M) The carriage of dangerous goods and marine pollutants: Amendments to international standards

Updated 18 October 2021

This statutory guidance was withdrawn on 8 January 2024

MSN 1906 has been replaced by MSN 1914 (M) The carriage of dangerous goods and marine pollutants: amendments to international standards.

Notice to all Owners, Ship Operators and Managers, Masters and Officers of Merchant Ships, Agents, Charterers, Cargo Pickers, Cargo Consolidators, Hauliers, Freight Forwarders, Shippers, Consignors, Training Providers, Inspectors of Cargoes, Port Authorities and Terminal Operators and others involved in the transport of dangerous goods and bulk chemicals by sea.

This notice takes effect from 1st January 2021 and replaces MSN 1893.

Summary

This MSN relates to the carriage of dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form and the transport of bulk chemicals and gas by sea in ships within UK waters and on UK ships wherever they may be.

The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 contain provisions to give effect to the 40th amendment of the IMDG Code, the 2020 edition of the IBC Code and associated amendments to the BCH Code.

The Merchant Shipping (Reporting Requirements for Ships Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods) Regulations 1995 and The Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2004 also contain provision to give effect to the 40th amendment to the IMDG Code.

This Merchant Shipping Notice is an integral part of the regulations described above.

1. Introduction

1.1 For the safety of ships, seafarers and the marine environment, all involved in the carriage, and preparation for carriage, by sea of dangerous goods and marine pollutants should comply with the relevant requirements. This Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) sets out some recent amendments to mandatory international codes related to the carriage by sea of packaged dangerous goods and noxious liquid substances in bulk.

2. International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code Amendment 40-20

2.1 Amendment 40-20 of the IMDG Code has been agreed in and adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (Resolution MSC.477(102)) applying in whole or in part on a voluntary basis from 1st January 2021 and entering into force internationally on 1st June 2022.

2.2 From 1st January 2021 until 31st May 2022, dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form must be shipped either:

• 2.2.1 In accordance with the mandatory IMDG Code 2018 Edition incorporating Amendment 39-18; or
• 2.2.2 In accordance with the IMDG code 2020 Edition incorporating Amendment 40-20.

2.3 On or after 1st June 2022, dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form must be shipped only in accordance with the IMDG Code 2020 Edition incorporating Amendment 40-20.

2.4 The IMDG Code 2020 Edition comprises two volumes. This edition of the Code incorporates changes made in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations 21st edition.

2.5 The IMDG Code 2020 edition incorporating Amendment 40-20 is available from the IMO at 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR.

2.6 The Secretary of State considers the IMDG Code 2020 edition incorporating Amendment 40-20 to be relevant for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Reporting Requirements for Ships Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods) Regulations 1995 (SI No. 2498/1995), the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 (SI No. 1997/2367) and the Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 2004/2110).

2.7 Therefore, these amendments take effect on 1st January 2021. Accordingly, references to the IMDG Code on or after that date in the regulations described in paragraph 2.6 are construed as references to the Code as so amended.

3. International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), 2020 Edition

3.1 The IBC Code provides the international standard for the carriage of noxious liquid substances in bulk by sea. The requirements of the IBC Code are given legal effect in the United Kingdom through the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution from Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2018.

3.2 The IMO, having reviewed the IBC Code, agreed and adopted amendments in Resolutions MEPC.318(74) and MSC.460(101) and these amendments came into force internationally on 1st January 2021 and are incorporated into the 2020 edition of the IBC Code.

3.3 The IBC Code is mandatory under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex II and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter VII Part B. These amendments to the IBC Code reflect amendments to MARPOL Annex II, adopted by Resolution MEPC.315(74) (Cargo residues and tank washings of persistent floating products). The Resolution amends regulations 1 and 13 and Appendices 4 and 6 of Annex II in order to insert requirements in relation to high-viscosity products which, in certain specified areas, will require a cargo tank prewash at the port of loading until the tank is empty, the residue of which must be discharged to a port reception facility.

3.4 The IBC Code 2020 edition (ISBN: 978-92-801-1728-8) is available from the IMO at 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR (IMO product code IE100E).

3.5 The Secretary of State considers the IBC Code 2020 edition, including amendments made by Resolutions MEPC.318(74) and MSC.460(101), to be relevant for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997. Therefore, the amendments will take effect on and after 1st January 2021. Accordingly, references to the IBC Code in those regulations on or after that date are references to the Code as so amended.

3.6 These amendments are also given effect in the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution from Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2018 by means of the ambulatory reference provisions in those regulations.

4. Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code), 2008 edition

4.1 The BCH Code provides the international standard for the carriage of dangerous chemicals in bulk by sea in vessels built prior to 1st July 1986. The requirements of the BCH Code are given effect in the United Kingdom through the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution from Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2018.

4.2 The IMO, having reviewed the BCH Code, agreed and adopted amendments in Resolutions MEPC.249(66) / MSC.376(93) which entered into force internationally on 1st January 2016, Resolutions MEPC.303(72) / MSC.446(99) which entered into force internationally on 1st January 2020 and Resolutions MEPC.319(74) / MSC.463(101) which enter into force on 1st January 2021.

4.3 The Secretary of State considers the BCH Code 2008 edition, as amended by the Resolutions described in paragraph 4.2, to be relevant for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997. Therefore, the amendments will take effect on and after 1st January 2021. Accordingly, references to the BCH Code in those regulations on or after that date are references to the Code as so amended.

4.4 These amendments are also given effect in the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution from Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2018 by means of the ambulatory reference provisions in those regulations.

More Information

Cargoes, Safety & Pollution Prevention Team
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/23
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 8172000 Email: dangerous.goods@mcga.gov.uk