Classification under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code:
Class 1: Explosives
1.1 Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard. e.g., Artillery shells, Display fireworks.
1.2 Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard. e.g., Smoke grenades.
1.3 Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard. e.g., Tear gas grenades.
Class 2: Gases
2.1 Flammable gases. e.g., Acetylene, Butane.
2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic gases. e.g., Compressed air, Carbon dioxide.
2.3 Toxic gases. e.g., Ammonia, Chlorine.
Class 3: Flammable Liquids. e.g., Ethanol.
Class 4: Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances which, in Contact with Water, Emit Flammable Gases
4.1 Flammable solids. e.g., Matches, Sulfur.
4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion. e.g., Copra, Wet cotton, Activated carbon.
4.3 Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases. e.g., Magnesium powder and other metallic substances.
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
5.1 Oxidizing substances. e.g., Potassium permanganate.
5.2 Organic peroxides. e.g., Benzoyl peroxide.
Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
6.1 Toxic substances. e.g., Mercuric chloride.
6.2 Infectious substances. e.g., Medical waste.
Class 7: Radioactive Material. e.g., Uranium.
Class 8: Corrosive Substances. e.g., Sodium hydroxide, Sulfuric acid.
Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles. e.g., Battery-powered vehicles, Life-saving appliances (containing small oxygen cylinders).
Shipping Line Acceptance for Transportation:
Classes 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are generally accepted by most shipping lines.
Class 1 is largely rejected.
Class 2 is accepted by a limited number of shipping lines.
Class 5.1 is strictly controlled by shipping lines.
Class 5.2 and Class 7 are largely rejected by shipping lines.
Maersk (MSK) and MSC accept a wider variety of dangerous goods, but their quotation process is more complex, requiring a Shipping Order, and the "Two Certificates and One Letter" for price application.
Dangerous Goods Packaging Classification and Codes:
Packing Group (PG):
PG I: Airtight. e.g., Steel cylinders.
PG II: Liquid-tight. e.g., Plastic drums, Steel drums.
PG III: Solid-tight. e.g., Kraft paper bags, Woven plastic bags.
Basic Dangerous Goods Handling Process:
Booking with Shipping Line: Requires submission of the "Two Certificates and One Letter" and a Dangerous Goods Application Form.
Maritime Declaration: Requires the "Two Certificates and One Letter." After declaration, the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) issues the Declaration on Fitness of Dangerous Goods for Transport.
Terminal Declaration: Requires the Declaration on Fitness of Dangerous Goods for Transport. After declaration, the terminal issues the Dangerous Goods Terminal Operation Approvaland the Dangerous Goods Warehouse Receipt Acknowledgment.
Container Stuffing: Requires photographs and video of the stuffing process, along with the Container Packing Certificate for Dangerous Goodsissued by the supervising packer.
Post-Stuffing: The dangerous goods warehouse sends the "Arrival Notice" (运抵报告). Customs declaration and release are then processed.
Completion of IMO Form: Prepare the shipping line's IMO (International Maritime Organization) Dangerous Goods Declaration form.
Special Circumstances:
Customs Declaration:
Declaration: Must indicate on the customs declaration that the goods are dangerous.
Customs Inspection: If inspected by customs, the dangerous goods remain within the designated dangerous goods warehouse. Customs officers conduct the inspection on-site at the warehouse.
MSA Inspection: Typically requested during the maritime declaration phase. Primarily verifies the product name, dangerous goods labels, and packaging.
Key Regulations to Understand for Dangerous Goods Sea Freight Booking!
Transporting dangerous goods differs significantly from general cargo, with stringent requirements including mandatory declaration. Supporting documents for declaration typically include the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goodsand the Technical Specification for Packaged Dangerous Goods. The booking process itself also differs, often requiring relevant documents to be faxed or emailed to the respective shipping line in advance. Requirements vary by carrier. Below is a compilation of dangerous goods booking knowledge for various shipping lines, intended to assist foreign trade enterprises and freight forwarding companies.
CMA CGM: Firstly, CMA CGM does not accept bookings for ACTIVE CARBON. Key requirements for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) include: 1) Providing the manufacturer's company name, address, phone number, and contact person; 2) For Section 14 (Transport Information), CMA CGM only accepts classifications (UN Number and Hazard Class) defined by the IMDG Code, not those from US DOT or Canada TDG. Secondly, general chemicals are booked as normal cargo but require a CMA CGM format Non-Hazardous Guarantee Letter and an MSDS (with the same requirements as for dangerous goods).
COSCO: Dangerous goods bookings require prior confirmation from the shipping line's sales or customer service. Without confirmation, COCOSCO will not accept the booking. Information required includes flash point, a 24-hour emergency contact number, and the product name in Chinese.
EVERGREEN: Does not accept dangerous goods bookings.
HMM: Requires the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goodsand MSDS, sent via email directly to HMM's designated mailbox for confirmation. (This guide is for reference only. For actual operations, follow the latest requirements from the shipping line.)
MSC: Dangerous goods bookings generally require the MDGF (Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form), the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goods, a Test Report (if required), and an MSDS (if required).
Maersk (MSK): After obtaining the Booking Note number and vessel/voyage details, the MDGF and the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goodsmust be sent to the relevant Maersk customer service within 2 hours, or the booking may be rejected. (The MDGF must be in WORD format).
OOCL: Dangerous goods bookings require a Dangerous Goods Application Form (no specific format required), Shipping Instructions, and the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goods. These should be emailed to the relevant OOCL customer service or a designated general mailbox. The email subject should specify: Vessel/Voyage + Contract Number + Bill of Lading Number + Destination Port.
PIL: Dangerous goods bookings require prior confirmation from the shipping line's sales or customer service. Booking at our agency requires the shipping line's booking confirmation document.
WHL (Wan Hai Lines): Dangerous goods bookings require the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goods, the Dangerous Goods Declaration Form, and an MSDS. The booking remarks must indicate which WHL salesperson confirmed the acceptance. Send the "Dangerous Goods Declaration / Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings / MSDS" via email to the relevant shipping line operations staff.
YML (Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.): Please email the Dangerous Goods Application Form (request "DG Form 4" if needed) and the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goodsto our agency for forwarding to the relevant shipping line operations. Note: For COSCO mother vessel shipments, requirements for dangerous goods declaration electronic messages and paper documents are as follows (please inform relevant clients): (1) The Container Packing Certificatemust be fully completed, including "Date of Packing, Place of Packing, Date of Issue, and Emergency Contact Section" (with the on-site packing inspector's handwritten signature). (2) The electronic declaration message and paper documents must clearly state the Gross Weight; the declaration form also requires a handwritten signature and complete emergency contact details. (3) Paper documents provided by the dangerous goods client must be complete and accurate. The client bears responsibility for any off-loading resulting from missing or incorrect data.
ZIM: Dangerous goods booked via ZIM Logistics require a Bill of Lading number and vessel name provided by ZIM Logistics. Booking requires the client to provide a Dangerous Goods Application Form, a Self-stuffing Guarantee Letter, the Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goods, and an MSDS (all in ZIM's fixed formats). Additionally, the booking description must include the foreign 24-hour emergency contact person and phone number, net weight, flash point, and whether the substance is Marine Pollutant (MARPOL).
Important Note: The above operational information is for booking reference only. Shipping line procedures are subject to change; always follow the latest requirements from the respective shipping line.
General documentation required for dangerous goods export bookings typically includes: Shipping Instructions, Certificate for Performance Tests of Packagings for Dangerous Goods, Technical Specification for Packaged Dangerous Goods, Declaration Form, and Container Packing Certificate. The Shipping Instructions should specify the product name in Chinese & English, container type, Hazard Class (CLASS NO.), UN Number (UN NO.), packaging, and any special requirements to facilitate space application and dangerous goods declaration. For transshipment cargo, confirm with the shipping line whether any restrictions apply at the transshipment port.