CHAPTER VI.

CARRIAGE OF CARGOES

 

With amendments

 

 

 

PART A - GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Regulation 1.
Application

 

1. This chapter applies to the carriage of cargoes (except liquids in bulk, gases in bulk and those aspects of carriage covered by other chapters) which, owing to their particular hazards to ships or persons on board, may require special precautions in all ships to which the present regulations apply and in cargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage. However, for cargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, the Administration, if it considers that the sheltered nature and conditions of voyage are such as to render the application of any specific requirements of part A or В of this chapter unreasonable or unnecessary, may take other effective measures to ensure the required safety for these ships.

 

2. To supplement the provisions of parts A and В of this chapter, each Contracting Government shall ensure that appropriate information on cargo and its stowage and securing is provided, specifying, in particular, precautions necessary for the safe carriage of such cargoes*.

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* Reference is made to:

 

1. the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing adopted by the Organization by resolution A.714(17), as amended;

 

2. the Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes adopted by the Organization by resolution A.715(17); and

 

3. the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (ВС Code) adopted by the Organization by resolution A.434(XI), as amended.

 

 

Regulation 2.
Cargo information

 

1. The shipper shall provide the master or his representative with appropriate information on the cargo sufficiently in advance of loading to enable the precautions which may be necessary for proper stowage and safe carriage of the cargo to be put into effect. Such information shall be confirmed in writing* and by appropriate shipping documents prior to loading the cargo on the ship. For the purpose of this regulation the cargo information required in subchapter 1.9 of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.714(17), as may be amended, shall be provided. Any such amendment to sub-chapter 1.9 shall be adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex other than chapter I.

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* Reference to documents in this regulation does not preclude the use of electronic data processing (EDP) and electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission techniques as an aid to paper documentation.

 

2. The cargo information shall include:

 

.1 in the case of general cargo, and of cargo carried in cargo units, a general description of the cargo, the gross mass of the cargo or of the cargo units, and any relevant special properties of the cargo;

 

.2 in the case of bulk cargo, information on the stowage factor of the cargo, the trimming procedures, likelihood of shifting including angle of repose, if applicable, and any other relevant special properties. In the case of a concentrate or other cargo which may liquefy, additional information in the form of a certificate on the moisture content of the cargo and its transportable moisture limit;

 

.3 in the case of a bulk cargo not classified in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code, as defined in regulation VII/1.1, but which has chemical properties that may create a potential hazard, in addition to the information required by the preceding subparagraphs, information on its chemical properties.

 

3. Prior to loading cargo units on board ships, the shipper shall ensure that the gross mass of such units is in accordance with the gross mass declared on the shipping documents.

 

Regulation 3.
Oxygen analysis and gas detection equipment

 

1. When transporting a bulk cargo which is liable to emit a toxic or flammable gas, or cause oxygen depletion in the cargo space, an appropriate instrument for measuring the concentration of gas or oxygen in the air shall be provided together with detailed instructions for its use. Such an instrument shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

 

2. The Administration shall take steps to ensure that crews of ships are trained in the use of such instruments.

 

Regulation 4.
The use of pesticides in ships*

 

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* Reference is made to the IMO Recommendation on the Safe Use of Pesticides in Ships, as amended.

 

Appropriate precautions shall be taken in the use of pesticides in ships, in particular for the purposes of fumigation.

 

Regulation 5.
Stowage and securing

 

1. Cargo, cargo units* and cargo transport units** carried on or under deck shall be so loaded, stowed and secured as to prevent as far as is practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board, and loss of cargo overboard.

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* Refer to the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code), adopted by the Organization by resolution A.714(17), as amended.

** Refer to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, adopted by the Organization by resolution MSC.122(75).

 

2. Cargo carried in a cargo unit and a cargo transport unit shall be so packed and secured within the unit as to prevent, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board.

 

3. Appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions to ensure that no structural damage to the ship occurs and to maintain adequate stability throughout the voyage.

 

4. Appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of cargo units and cargo transport units    on board ro-ro ships, especially with regard to the securing arrangements on board such ships and on the cargo units and cargo transport units and with regard to the strength of the securing points and lashings.

 

5. Containers shall not be loaded to more than the maximum gross weight indicated on the Safety Approval Plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).

 

6. All cargoes, other than solid and liquid bulk cargoes, shall be loaded, stowed and secured throughout the voyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual approved by the Administration. In ships with ro-ro cargo spaces, as defined in regulation II-2/3, all securing of such cargoes, in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual, shall be completed before the ship leaves berth. The Cargo Securing Manual shall be drawn up to a standard at least equivalent to relevant guidelines developed by the Organization*.

 

PART В - SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR BULK CARGOES OTHER THAN GRAIN

 

Regulation 6.
Acceptability for shipment

 

1. Prior to loading a bulk cargo, the master shall be in possession of comprehensive information on the ship's stability and on the distribution of cargo for the standard loading conditions. The method of providing such information shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration**.

 

2. Concentrates or other cargoes which may liquefy shall only be accepted for loading when the actual moisture content of the cargo is less than its transportable moisture limit. However, such concentrates and other cargoes may be accepted for loading even when their moisture content exceeds the above limit, provided that safety arrangements to the satisfaction of the Administration are made to ensure adequate stability in the case of cargo shifting and further provided that the ship has adequate structural integrity.

 

3. Prior to loading a bulk cargo which is not a cargo classified in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code, as defined in regulation VII/1.1 but which has chemical properties that may create a potential hazard, special precautions for its safe carriage shall be taken.

 

Regulation 7.
Loading, unloading and stowage of bulk cargoes***

 

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* Refer to the Guidelines on the Preparation of the Cargo Securing Manual, approved by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization and promulgated by circular MSC/Circ.745.

** Reference is made to the Code on Intact Stability for All Types of Ships Covered by IMO Instruments, adopted by resolution A.749(18), as amended.

*** Refer to the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.862(20).

 

1. For the purpose of this regulation, terminal representative means a person appointed by the terminal or other facility, where the ship is loading or unloading, who has responsibility for operations conducted by that terminal or facility with regard to the particular ship.

 

2. To enable the master to prevent excessive stresses in the ship's structure, the ship shall be provided with a booklet, which shall be written in a language with which the ship's officers responsible for cargo operations are familiar. If this language is not English, the ship shall be provided with a booklet written also in the English language. The booklet shall, as a minimum, include:

 

.1 stability data, as required by regulation II-1/22;

 

.2 ballasting and deballasting rates and capacities;

 

.3 maximum allowable load per unit surface area of the tank top plating;

 

.4 maximum allowable load per hold;

 

.5 general loading and unloading instructions with regard to the strength of the ship's structure including any limitations on the most adverse operating conditions during loading, unloading, ballasting operations and the voyage;

 

.6 any special restrictions such as limitations on the most adverse operating conditions imposed by the Administration or organization recognised by it, if applicable; and

 

.7 where strength calculations are required, maximum permissible forces and moments on the ship's hull during loading, unloading and the voyage.

 

3. Before a solid bulk cargo is loaded or unloaded, the master and the terminal representative shall agree on a plan which shall ensure that the permissible forces and moments on the ship are not exceeded during loading or unloading, and shall include the