Clarification on the amendments to the IMSBC Code

27 August 2015  |  C15027

Following the amendments adopted in January this year, a number of cargoes require structural modifications and additional equipment on board.  This Circular aims to clarify these requirements.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners / Managers / Operators  |  Surveyors  |  Flag Administrations

The IMSBC Code has been amended through IMO Resolution MSC.354(92) and entered into force on January 1, 2015.  The amendments include various new requirementsfor loading cargoes as well as a more comprehensive assessment for accepting Group A cargoes for safe shipment and new schedule for nickel ore.

For the following cargoes additional requirements have been implemented requiring structural modifications or additional equipment on board ships.

Ammonium Nitrate [IMO Class 5.1 / UN No. 1942]

As per the amended Code this cargo shall not be loaded in cargo spaces adjacent to fuel oil tank(s), unless heating arrangements for the tank(s) are disconnected and remain disconnected during the entire voyage.

Ammonium Nitrate – Based Fertilizer [IMO Class 5.1 / UN 2067]

Ammonium Nitrate  – Based Fertilizer [IMO Class 9 / UN No. 2071]

Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer (non-hazardous)

These cargoes shall not to be stowed immediately adjacent to any tank, double bottom or pipe containing heated fuel oil unless there are means to monitor and control the temperature so that it does not exceed 50°C.

Dromon Interpretation

In order to comply with the updated requirements for the loading of Ammonium Nitrate [IMO Class 5.1 / UN No. 1942] the heating arrangements for the fuel oil tank(s) adjacent to cargo spaces shall be disconnected.  A method to disconnect the heating arrangements can be the fitting of spectacle flanges.

To comply with the updated requirements for the loading of Ammonium Nitrate – Based Fertilizer [IMO Class 5.1 / UN 2067], Ammonium Nitrate – Based Fertilizer [IMO Class 9 / UN No. 2071] and Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer (non-hazardous) means to monitor and control the temperature so that it does not exceed 50°C must be provided.  Such means can be temperature monitoring devices.  In this case the spectacle flanges will be considered as an alternative method by this Bureau.

Revised Requirements for Carrying Ammonium Nitrate Cargoes

[table width="1500px"] ,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20  CARGO, Group, Stowage, NO SMOKING signal, Ventilation, SCBA, Protective clothing, Bilge linE, Explosion protected E.Q., Dual purpose nozzles, 4 sets of water, Heating arrangement, Remote control of fie pump, 4 Jets of water, Explosion protected E.Q., Mechanical ventilation, Safe type fan, Natural ventilation, Personal protection, A-60 insulation, FFFA  AMMONIMUM NITRATE (IMO Class 5.1 / UN No. 1942), B, A-60, Yes, , Yes, Yes, , Yes, , Yes, H1, X, X, X, , X, X, X, X, Yes AMMONIUM NITRATE – BASED FERTILIZE [IMO Class 5.1 / UN 2067], B, A-60, Yes, , Yes, Yes, , Yes, , Yes, H1 or H2, X, X, X, , X, X, X, X, Yes AMMONIUM NITRATE – BASED FERTILIZER [IMO Class 9 / UN No. 2071], B, A-60, Yes, , Yes, Yes, , Yes, , Yes, H1 or H2, X, X, X, , X, X, X, X, Yes AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER (non-hazardous), C, A-60, Yes, , Yes, Yes, , Yes, , Yes, H1 or H2, , , , , , , , , Yes [/table]

Columns
1 Group B includes cargoes which possess a chemical hazard which could be dangerous on board a ship
Group C incudes cargoes which are neither liable to liquefy (Group A) nor to possess chemical hazard (Group B)
2 Bulkheads to the engine room are to be insulated to A-60 standard
3 “NO SMOKING” signs shall be posted on decks and in areas adjacent to cargo compartments
4 Ventilation requirements are not applicable for these cargoes
5 Two (2) self-contained breathing apparatuses with 200% spare cylinders are to be additionally provided
6 Four sets of protective clothing which consists of a pair of gloves, boots, a protective clothing and helmet with googles are to be additional provided
7 Bilge line requirements are not applicable for these cargoes
8 Intrinsically safe type electrical equipment are considered as suitable explosion protected type electrical equipment
9 Dual purpose nozzles requirements are not applicable for these cargoes
10 The quantity of water delivered is to be capable of supplying four nozzles at pressure as specified in SOLAS regulations and being trained on any part of the cargo space when empty
H1: The means to disconnect heating arrangements for the fuel oil tank(s) shall be provided
11 H2: The means to monitor and control the temperature of boundary between the fuel oil tank(s) and cargo spaces so that it does not exceed 50°C shall be provided
As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
12 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
13 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
14 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
15 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
16 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
17 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
18 As per SOLAS Regulation II-2/54.2 or 19.3
19 Fixed gas fire extinguishing system is ineffective and for which a fixed fire extinguishing system giving equivalent protection shall be available. According to the Unified Interpretation of IMO, water supplies defined in SOLAS Regulation II-2/19.3.1.2 are considered as the
20 alternative of a fixed gas fire extinguishing system in cargo spaces

Complying with the new requirements

For ships intending to continue to load the above mentioned cargoes must submit to Dromon Head Office the following supporting documents for review and acceptance:

• An updated piping diagram showing the disconnection of heating arrangements for those fuel oil tank(s) adjacent to cargo spaces
• Type approval of the temperature monitoring and controls equipment along with an updated drawing showing their locations on board the ship

For ships that do not intend to continue to load the above mentioned cargoes, Dromon Surveyors will be instructed to delete these cargoes from the Attachments to the Certificate of Compliance for the Carriage of Solid Bulk Cargoes.

act now

Owners / Managers of ships that intent to continue to carry the above mentioned cargoes must submit to Dromon Head Office the requested supporting documents as soon as possible.  Our Engineering Department will review and confirm the acceptance of the measures implemented to comply with the updated requirements and thus continue to carry these cargoes.

Surveyors will be instructed in the forthcoming annual surveys to review that ships intending to continue to carry the above mentioned cargoes comply with the updated structural modifications and additional equipment on board.

For those ships that do not intend to continue to carry these cargoes, the Surveyors will be instructed to conduct the necessary corrections on the Attachments to the Certificate of Compliance for the Carriage of Solid Bulk Cargoes.

Dromon will be imposing a memo in the survey status of ships that intent to continue to carry these cargoes with a rectification date the due date of the annual solid bulk cargoes survey.  The memo will also appear in ERETES platform for Owners / Managers to follow up.