I.M.O. International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
I.M.O. regulations strictly rule the international maritime transportation of dangerous goods (International Maritime Dangerous Goods, IMDG, Code Part 5.2.1.6) and imposes that all containers must be marked with flags measuring at least 250 mm x250 mm, to give evidence of the type of carried hazardous materials or pollutants.
Sole exception in the obligation to use I.M.O> labels is for those packages whose content is less than or equal to 5 litres or 5 kg.
I.M.O. labels have to be placed in some specific areas of the maritime container:
Dangerous goods are classified into nine classes (plus several subcategories) on the basis of specific chemical characteristics from which they take the risk.
Labels for hazardous cargo are divided into:
CLASS 1: Explosives
CLASS 2: Gas
CLASS 3: Flammable liquids
CLASS 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitised explosives
CLASS 4.2: Substances subjected to spontaneous combustion
CLASS 4.3: Substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water
CLASS 5.1: Oxidizing materials
CLASS 5.2: Organic peroxides
CLASS 6.1: Toxic materials
CLASS 6.2: Infectious substances
CLASS 7: Radioactive materials
CLASS 8: Corrosive materials
CLASS 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and items
DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
WASTE
HOT DELIVERED MATERIAL
LABEL # 11 ORIENTED ARROWS ORIENTATION
SPECIAL LABELS FOR GOODS IN LIMITED QUANTITY
Labels for hazardous cargo are the graphic representation of the single hazard. The adopted system allows for identifying very easily the type of danger of the load being carried.
Another regulation concerning the transport of dangerous cargo imposes that necessary instructions in case of emergency have to be affixed in the vehicle cockpit.
It is also required a specific declaration prepared by the sender and accompanying the goods. That declaration must be completed by using templates issued by the I.M.O. International Maritime Organization.
This document must include:
– Name and address of the sender
– Description of each of the dangerous goods
– Their quantity
– Their classification
– Packing
– Emergency phone numbers
External controls are carried out on a container carrying hazardous goods BEFORE OPENING IT:
1. Check that the container has passed the examination for safety and that such approval has not expired.
2. Check that there all the necessary IMO labels are in place.
3. Check that there is no visible hole or crack on the container.
4. Check that the structure of the container has no damage on corner blocks.
5.The doors must not be broken on their hinges or gaskets.
6. Monitoring the integrity of the seal, which has to be a high security ISO 17712:2013 compliant.
PRODUCTS
-
IMO & HAZARD LABELS
IMO labels.