The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), adopted in 1965 under the SOLAS (International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea) Convention of 1960, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe transport of dangerous goods by sea. Updated periodically, the IMDG Code’s primary objectives include preventing marine pollution and facilitating the unrestricted movement of hazardous materials. Voluntary compliance began on 1 January 2019, with mandatory compliance enforced from 1 January 2020. This uniform international code provides comprehensive guidelines for packaging, container traffic, and stowage, with a special focus on the segregation of incompatible substances, reports Marine Insight.
Objectives and Compliance
The IMDG Code’s primary objective is to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods, preventing marine pollution while facilitating the unrestricted movement of such goods. Voluntary compliance began on 1 January 2019, with mandatory compliance starting on 1 January 2020.
Developed as a uniform international code, the IMDG Code includes guidelines for packing, container traffic, and stowage, emphasizing the segregation of incompatible substances. It is a two-volume set, with an additional one-volume supplement focusing on fire and spillage emergencies.
The IMDG Code ensures that dangerous goods transported by sea are safely packaged, applying uniformly to all cargo-carrying ships worldwide. These dangerous goods are essential for manufacturing items like electronics, cars, batteries, and pharmaceuticals, which are in high demand and constitute a significant portion of global trade.
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Source: Marine Insight
