The section looks at the dangerous goods details in the shipper’s declaration that the shipper should supply to the shipping line when making the original cargo booking and provides examples where appropriate. It also indicates the way that information must be presented on the final transport document that is presented to the cargo transport unit packer (who will complete and sign the packing certificate section) and the shipping line.

The shipping line booking staff who receive this information will process it and accept or reject the cargo on the strength of the information provided. If the information conflicts with the IMDG Code requirements the booking will be rejected.

A4.1 Identification and display of dangerous goods details

The dangerous goods details are specified in various sections of the IMDG Code, but the details required for the cargo booking and transport document are found in IMDG Part 5 and the Dangerous Goods List.

The details required will vary according to the type of dangerous goods.

This section contains the cargo details on the information that must be provided for every dangerous goods shipment in the following sequence:

UN Number¹³

The four-digit number in Column 1 of the Dangerous Goods List with the letters

“UN” placed in front:

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: “UN 2022”.

Proper Shipping Name¹⁴

The name of a substance or article shown in Column 2 of the IMDG Dangerous Goods List.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: “UN 2022, CRESYLIC ACID”.

OR

Not Otherwise Specified (N.O.S.) Proper Shipping Name¹⁵

N.O.S. generic names are used to describe a shipper’s own mixture or solution of dangerous goods that are not listed in the Dangerous Goods List.

To complete an N.O.S. Proper Shipping Name, the technical name(s) of the hazardous components in the mixture must be specified and added in brackets after the generic name. Not more than the two constituents which most predominantly contribute to the hazard or hazards of the mixture or of the articles need to be shown.

The transport document displays N.O.S. entries as the generic description shown in column 2 (selected from IMDG Code Appendix A) followed in brackets by the variable hazardous components.

As it appears on the shipper’s declaration: “UN 1993, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S. (contains 60% propylamine)”.           

Class¹⁶

The Class is the hazard classification of a substance as determined by the UN Classification tests and is shown in Column 3 of the Dangerous Goods List. Use the numerical entry in Column 3 immediately after the Proper Shipping Name:

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: “UN 2022, CRESYLIC ACID, Class 6.1”. See section B3 below on Classification.

Subsidiary hazard¹⁷

If a substance has more than one hazard characteristic this must be identified in the Dangerous Goods List. In such cases the main class is shown in Column 3 and in addition any subsidiary hazard class(es) shown in Column 4. Note that a maximum of two subsidiary hazards are only ever included.

If there is a subsidiary hazard class applicable this must be placed within brackets after the main class.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 2901, BROMINE CHLORIDE, Class 2.3, (5.1/8)”.

Packing group¹⁸

The Packing Group (PG) I, II or III indicates the degree of danger with PG I as the greatest danger and PG III as low danger. Not all UN Numbers have packing groups, but most of the entries in Classes 3, 4 (other than self-reactive substances), 5.1, 6.1, 8 and most in 9 have a packing group. These are indicated by I, II or III in Column 5 of the Dangerous Goods List. When entered on the transport document they may be preceded by ‘PG’ as in our example below.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 2022, CRESYLIC ACID, Class 6.1, 8, PG II”.

See section B6 below on Packing Groups.

Number and type of packages¹⁹

These are a simple description of the packages and must always be included except for empty, unclean packagings. e.g. 80 x Drums or 440 fibreboard boxes

The IMDG Code does not require the transport document to include the following in the description of the type of packaging:

• the material of which the packaging is made
• the packaging codes
• the number, type and capacity of each inner packaging

Note: Shipping lines may request some or all of these items as a cross check, and frequently require the packaging code (e.g. 4G for fibreboard boxes).

Net and gross mass of each type of dangerous goods in the consignment

The net mass is the weight of a dangerous substance without the packaging. If more than one substance is in the consignment, the net mass of each UN Number must be shown separately. The gross mass is combined weight of the dangerous goods and the packaging.

Typical declarations

Example 1

No. and type of packages: 80 x drums (+ volume or mass as appropriate)

UN Number:                             UN 2323

Details from the Dangerous Goods List:

Proper Shipping Name:           TRIETHYL PHOSPHITE

Class:                                        3

Sub-hazard:                             N/A

Packing group:                        PG III

IMDG Declaration of 80 drums as it would appear on the shipper’s declaration:

80 x drums (volume or mass as appropriate)

UN 2323, TRIETHYL PHOSPHITE, 3, PG III

Example 2

No. and type of packages: 500 x jerricans (+ volume or mass as appropriate)

Details from the Dangerous Goods List:

UN Number:                             UN 1100

Proper Shipping Name:           ALLYL CHLORIDE

Class:                                        3

Sub-hazard:                              6.1

Packing group:                        PG 1

IMDG Declaration of 500 jerricans as it would appear on the shipper’s declaration:

500 x jerricans (+ volume or mass as appropriate)

UN 1100, ALLYL CHLORIDE, 3, (6.1), PG I

Example 3

No. and type of packages:     100 fibreboard boxes (+ net and gross mass)

Details from the Dangerous Goods List:

UN Number:                             UN 1760

Proper Shipping Name:           CORROSIVE LIQUID, N.O.S.(benzalkonium chloride)

Class:                                       8

Packing Group:                         II

IMDG Declaration for 100 fibreboard boxes as it would appear on the shipper’s declaration:

100 x fibreboard boxes (+ volume or mass as appropriate)

UN 1760, CORROSIVE LIQUID, N.O.S. (benzalkonium chloride), 8, PG II

-

¹³ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 2.0.2

¹⁴ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Sections 2.0.2 and 3.1.2

¹⁵ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 3.1.2.8

¹⁶ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 2.0.1.1

¹⁷ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 2.0.0

¹⁸ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 2.0.1.3

¹⁹ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.1

This section lists a variable range of common and less common cargo details that the shipper may be required to provide.

In addition to the details listed in the previous section, the shipping line may require supplementary mandatory information from the IMDG Code that will vary depending on the nature and classification of the dangerous goods.

Most of this information can be obtained in the Dangerous Goods List of the IMDG Code, but some has to be obtained from within the text of the Code or from the shipper’s classification in the case of N.O.S. substances. Shippers and freight forwarders that do not have a good working knowledge of the IMDG Code, should always be encouraged to seek advice from experts in the dangerous goods department of the shipping line regarding documentation requirements, but shipping lines will not make decisions on classification – that must come from the shipper.

While shipping lines will try to be helpful when taking bookings, it must be understood that it is the shipper’s legal duty to present accurate and full descriptions of dangerous cargoes offered, and the assistance that shipping lines can provide is legally limited.

Consequentially, incorrectly documented or badly packed cargo will be rejected at booking stage or shut out even if the booking has been accepted in principle, and delays and unplanned cost overheads will be incurred for remedial work.

The following are variable cargo details that the IMDG Code may require to be included in the shipper’s declaration, depending on the type of cargo offered.

Flashpoint²⁰ for Class 3 substances and substances with a subsidiary Class 3 hazard

Class 3 substances are liquids that that give off a flammable vapour at temperatures at or below 60ºC. For single entries for well-defined substances the flashpoint is provided in the properties and observation column of the DGL, however, due to the presence of impurities, the actual flashpoint may be lower or higher than this reference temperature.

The flashpoint must be included in the shipper’s declaration for a flammable liquid and be added after the Packing Group in brackets according to shipper’s determination.

This also applies to substances with a subsidiary hazard of Class 3.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 1090, ACETONE, 3, PG II, (-20^°C c.c.)”

Marine pollutant²¹

Marine pollutants are substances or articles that are hazardous for the marine environment. Any class of dangerous goods substance (apart from class 7) can also be a marine pollutant, but not all of them are. Also, substances that are not otherwise classified as dangerous goods may fit the criteria for classification as marine pollutants and are classified as “Environmentally Hazardous Substances, Solid/Liquid, N.O.S., Class 9”.

When goods are marine pollutants the words “MARINE POLLUTANT” are added at the end of the description of the dangerous goods.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 2826, ETHYL CHLOROTHIOFORMATE, Class 8 (3), PG II, (29^°C), MARINE POLLUTANT”

Solid or liquid

The UN classification system differentiates between solid and liquid states of the same product, as the hazards are different. Where the words “SOLID” or “LIQUID” appear in the Proper Shipping Name in Column 2 of the Dangerous Goods List it must be included in the declaration.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 3429, CHLOROTOLUIDINES, LIQUID, 6.1, PG III,

UN 2239, CHLOROTOLUIDINES, SOLID, 6.1, PG III”

Stabilized and temperature controlled substances²²

Unless already part of the proper shipping name the word "STABILIZED" shall be added to the proper shipping name if stabilization is used and the words "TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED" shall be added to the proper shipping name if stabilization is by temperature control or a combination of chemical stabilization and temperature control.

Substances stabilized by temperature control²³

If the words "TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED" are part of the Proper Shipping Name, the control and emergency temperatures²⁴ shall be indicated in the transport document, as follows:

"Control temperature: ....°C Emergency temperature: ....°C".

Self-reactive substances, polymerizing substances and organic peroxides²⁵

For self-reactive substances, organic peroxides and polymerizing substances which require temperature control during transport, the control and emergency temperatures shall be indicated on the dangerous goods transport document, as follows:

"Control temperature: ....° C Emergency temperature: ....°C".

Empty uncleaned packages²⁶

Including drums, gas cylinders, large packagings, intermediate bulk containers, (IBCs), bulk containers, tanks (all kinds) and tank containers, containing dangerous goods residue.

Nominally empty uncleaned packages that contain residue of dangerous goods are still dangerous to handle, can give off dangerous vapours, and may explode in fires. Such items must be declared, documented, marked and labelled with Proper Shipping Name, UN Number and class, sub-hazard, flashpoint etc, as for any normal dangerous goods with an additional clause on the declaration to indicate the package is nominally empty.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: “EMPTY UNCLEANED” or “RESIDUE LAST CONTAINED” should appear before or after the Proper Shipping Name.                                 

Wastes²⁷

Dangerous goods transported as wastes for recycling or disposal must be declared to the shipping line and on the shipper’s declaration. This is a requirement of the IMDG Code, but it is likely to also be a requirement of local legislation, such as the EC Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations, and may be subject to local port regulations.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: The word “WASTE” should appear before the Proper Shipping Name.

Note: Many shipping lines are unwilling to carry wastes because they can be vicariously liable for charges if wastes are mis-declared.

Salvage packagings including large salvage packagings and salvage pressure receptacles²⁸

Cargo shipped in salvage packaging including large salvage packagings and salvage pressure receptacles, for whatever reason, must be notified to the shipping line. The salvage packaging used must conform to United Nations test standards for PG II.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: The words “SALVAGE PACKAGE” or “SALVAGE PRESSURE RECEPTACLE” should be added to the document together with the number of salvage packages and an estimate of the quantity (kg or litres) of dangerous goods in the salvage package(s).

Radioactive materials²⁹

Many shipping lines do not carry radioactive materials because of the difficulty in placing insurance and because many ports do not permit the transit of radioactive materials.

Owing to complexity of radioactive materials there is a great deal of information and certification related to the product and its packaging, as well as safety instructions and emergency procedures that could be justifiably requested by the shipping line. As each shipping line will come to its own considered opinion about the carriage of radioactive materials and the controls it wishes to apply, this section will not go into the details that could be requested. The statutory documentation details are set out in the IMDG Code.

Explosives³⁰

Like radioactive materials there are insurance and port transit difficulties shipping explosives. To consider accepting explosives, the shipping line will need to know the hazard division and compatibility group of the explosives as these will determine the shipboard segregation, port restrictions, and insurance limits of the potential cargo. Many ports accept no explosives except Class 1.4S, the least restrictive.

The quantity of explosives is measured in net explosive quantity (NEQ) – also referred to as the Net Explosives Content (N EC) which is the amount of explosives compound in the article consignment. The gross weight of ancillary equipment incorporated in or around the explosives is unimportant – only the NEQ matters for the calculation of port limits and shipboard segregation.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: A typical description of an explosives consignment would be as follows:

20 x boxes, UN 0012, CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS, Class 1.4S,
Net explosive quantity (NEQ) 15 kilograms
Net weight 550 kilograms
Gross weight 600 kilograms

Carriage at elevated temperature³¹

Liquids carried in tanks at 100^°C or more and solids carried at 240^°C or more must be declared, even if the substance is not classed as dangerous goods at normal temperatures.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: The words “MOLTEN” or “ELEVATED TEMPERATURE” may appear as part of the Proper Shipping Name, but if this is not the case, the word “HOT” should precede the Proper Shipping Name on the document.

Fumigated cargo transport units³²

Many cargo transport units carrying non-hazardous cargoes particularly unprocessed food products such as beans and rice, and some carrying dangerous goods cargoes are fumigated in transit for pest control reasons.

The method is by the introduction of highly toxic penetrative gas, usually a derivative of phosphine. All methods create a hazard when fumigated units are stowed in confined spaces below deck on ships, and a severe hazard for any person who may be required to enter the cargo transport unit before it has been ventilated to clear the gas.

A container shipped under fumigation becomes a dangerous goods movement, regardless of the cargo, and must be declared, documented and manifested as dangerous goods.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration:

“UN 3359, FUMIGATED CARGO TRANSPORT UNIT, CLASS 9”

This description should be followed in the document or accompanied by a fumigation certificate with the following information:

• The date and time of fumigation
• The type of fumigant
• The amount of fumigant used

The documents shall include instructions for disposal of any residual fumigant or fumigation device.

Emergency telephone numbers

There is no requirement in the IMDG Code for the shipper to provide his telephone number to assist in an emergency. However, shippers may provide them, even though it may not be a 24/7 number.

Note, some countries including USA have legislation requiring a 24-hour emergency number to be provided so it is always worth checking if this is required.

As it appears on shipper’s declaration: The telephone number should be entered on shipper’s declaration in such a way that it cannot be confused with any part of the cargo description.

-

²⁰ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.4.3.6

²¹ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.4.3.5

²² See Section B9 below on Special controls for polymerizing and unstable substances stabilized for transport

²³ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 7.3.7

²⁴ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.4

²⁵ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.5 and see Section B9 below for further details on Control and Emergency temperatures

²⁶ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.4.3.2

²⁷ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Sections 2.0.5 and 5.4.1.4.3.3

²⁸ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.3

²⁹ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.7

³⁰ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.5.9

³¹ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.4.3.4

³² IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.5.2

While the previous sections dealt with the details that shippers may be required to provide when making a dangerous goods booking, this section looks at how those details should be entered on the dangerous goods transport document, the formal document that must accompany the consignment.

The transport document can be in any format but must contain the declaration details of the dangerous goods, the wording of the shipper’s declaration and the wording of the packing certificate from the UN model in IMDG Chapter 5.4. The packing certificate may be on a separate document to the shipper’s declaration, but is most commonly on a version of the UN combined form shown below. This form is multimodal and can be used for all surface modes.

Note that the use of electronic data processing (EDP) and electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission techniques is permitted as an alternative to submission of paper documentation.

Example of the multimodal dangerous goods form – see IMDG Code 5.4.5

As well as information pertaining to the dangers presented, the name and address of the consignor and the consignee of the dangerous goods must be included on the transport document along with the date when the document or an electronic copy of it was prepared or given to the initial carrier.

Certification of the dangerous goods transport document³³

Once all details have been completed on the dangerous goods transport document it must include a declaration or certification, signed and dated by the consignor, stating that the consignment is acceptable for transport and that the goods are properly packaged, marked and labelled and in proper condition for transport by sea.

Further information on the consignor’s/shipper’s declaration, including an example of a completed dangerous goods transport document, may be found at Section A7.2 and A7.3 of this guide.

If EDP or EDI is used to transmit the document, the signature(s) may be electronic signature(s) or may be replaced by the name(s) in capitals of the person authorised to sign.

Container/vehicle packing certificate³⁴

When dangerous goods shipped by sea are packed into a container, vehicle or trailer, those responsible for the packing operation must provide a ‘container/vehicle packing certificate’ specifying the container/vehicle identification number(s) and certifying that the operation has been carried out in accordance with the conditions listed in IMDG 5.4.2.1.

As mentioned above, the information required on the transport document and the container/vehicle packing certificate may be incorporated into a single document, otherwise they must be attached to each other.

See Step 7 for further information on the packing certificate.

-

³³ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.1.6

³⁴ IMDG Code, 2022 Edition Amendment 41-22, Section 5.4.2

In addition to the shipper’s declaration on the transport document (dangerous goods document/dangerous goods form) some consignments will require additional certification to be given to the line. Some examples are below:

• Weathering certificate
• Exemption certificate
• Letter of indemnity
• Competent Authority Approval

-

³⁵ IMDG Code, 2020 Edition Amendment 40-20, Section 5.4.4 and Chapter 7.9.2