Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, 6th session (CCC 6) 9-13 September 2019

IMO Model Course on Safe Handling and Transport of Solid Bulk Cargoes validated

The safety of ships carrying bulk cargoes depends on proper implementation of IMO rules - and training is crucial. A new IMO Model Course on Safe Handling and Transport of Solid Bulk Cargoes was validated by the Sub-Committee.

The course will focus on the mandatory measures for handling and transport of solid bulk cargoes outlined in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, which is the industry rulebook on how to deal with such cargoes.

IMO model courses are designed to facilitate access to knowledge and skills.

The course will cover all solid bulk cargoes, including those which may liquefy when moisture limits are reached and cause instability of the ship. These cargoes require that particular attention is paid to testing and recording moisture limits before loading.  

New and alternative fuels – interim safety guidelines for methyl/ethyl alcohol agreed

There is increased focus on new fuels and fuel blends, which are being developed to ensure compliance with the 0.50% sulphur limit for fuel oil (from 1 January 2020) and IMO 2030 and 2050 CO₂ emission targets set out in the IMO GHG strategy.

Matters related to newer types of fuel are considered under the agenda item on the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The IGF Code, which entered into force in 2017, aims to minimize the risk to ships, their crews and the environment, given the nature of the fuels involved. It has initially focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG), but work is now underway to consider other relevant fuel types.

The Sub-Committee:

• finalized draft interim guidelines for the safety of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval;
• made progress in developing draft interim guidelines for the safety of ships using fuel cell power installations;  
• agreed to develop amendments to the IGF Code to include safety provisions for ships using low-flashpoint oil fuels safety and established a correspondence group to continue this work;.
• approved, in principle, draft amendments to the IGF Code, relating to specific requirements for ships using natural gas as fuel. The Sub-Committee further agreed to develop agree interim guidelines on safety provisions for ships using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuels.
• completed draft Guidelines for the acceptance of alternative metallic materials for cryogenic service in ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk and ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels, for submission to the MSC for approval.
  

Next set of draft amendments to the IMDG Code agreed

The Sub-Committee agreed the next set of draft amendments (40-20) to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, which will be submitted to MSC 102 for adoption, following finalization by the Editorial and Technical (E&T) Group.

The draft amendments relate to: segregation requirements for alcoholates; segregation in relation to liquid organic substances; classification and transport of carbon, following incidents involving the spontaneous ignition of charcoal; classification of UN portable tanks for multimodal transport; and provisions for labels. 

The Sub‑Committee also established a correspondence group to review maritime special provisions in in chapter 3.3 of the IMDG Code, in order to identify those permitting exemptions from the full application of the Code; and to recommend a way forward. The review is intended to address issues related to non-declaration and misdeclaration of dangerous goods.

Development of next set of draft amendments to IMSBC Code

Progress was made in developing the next set of draft amendments to the IMSBC Code, which will be further considered by the E&T Group in spring 2020. This set of amendments (06-21) will include updates to individual schedules and proposed new individual schedules, among others. 

The Sub-Committee discussed the need for a distinction between the phenomena of liquefaction and dynamic separation for Group A cargoes, noting that dynamic separation only applied to bauxite. The issue was referred to the E&T Group for further discussion ahead of the next session, CCC 7.

In June 2019, MSC 101 adopted a consolidated edition of the IMSBC Code, incorporating all amendments adopted to date, since the Code was first adopted in 2008, as well as amendment 05-19.

Draft amendments to CSS Code on weather-dependent lashing agreed

The Sub-Committee agreed draft amendments to annex 13 of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code) related to weather-dependent lashing, aimed at ensuring the highest level of cargo securing, taking into account expected weather conditions and other factors. 

Inspection programme for containers

The Sub-Committee made progress in revising and updating the guidance on inspection programmes for cargo transport units (CTUs), including expanding the current guidelines for inspections related to transport of dangerous goods at sea, to include all types of cargoes carried in CTUs.

The Sub-Committee encouraged Member States to undertake CTU inspections and report their findings to the Organization.

A correspondence group was instructed to further develop the draft amendments to the inspection programmes; review the draft guidelines to ensure they are up-to-date; and consider contamination and pest control matters with regard to CTU inspections taking into account the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code).