IMDG Code: History and Application

Posted by Harry Voges on February 15th, 2018

IMDG code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) is accepted as an international guideline to the safe transportation or shipment of dangerous goods or hazardous materials by water on a vessel. It is intended to protect crew members and to prevent marine pollution in the safe transportation of hazardous materials by vessel. This code is recommended to governments for adoption or for use as the basis for national regulations. You can now find IMDG code 2015 and IMDG code 2014 complete guide online.

IMDG code and its history:
The IMDG code or the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code was adopted in 1965 as per the Safety for Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention of 1960. It was formed to prevent all types of pollutions at sea. This code also ensures that the goods transported through marine transport are packaged in such a way that they can be safely transported. The dangerous goods code is a uniform code which means that the code is applicable for all cargo-carrying ships around the world.

The code has been updated and maintained by the CCC Sub- Committee of the IMO every two years. Since the marine transportation has undergone a lot of development and changes, it becomes highly important that the code also keeps up with the changes. This is why there have been constant amendments to the code. The amendments are proposed every two years, and the adoption of the amendments takes place after two years of the proposal by the concerned authorities. The amendments are proposed in this manner:

• The countries that are members of the IMO present the required proposal
• The UN’s expert panel then views and decides what proposals merit immediate attention in the upcoming amendment.

Why was this code created?
This code has been created as per the recommendations of the United Nations’ panel of the expert on the transport of dangerous goods along with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This recommendation by the United Nations was presented as a report in the year 1956, after which the IMDG Code was started to be drafted in 1961.

Applications of The Code:
The implementation of The Code is mandatory in conjunction with the obligations of the members of United Nation Government.
This code is intended for use not only by the mariner but also by all those involved in industries and service connected with shipping.

At present, the reach of the IMDG Code extends to about 150 countries around the world with around 98% ships following the requirements of the code. This figure helps us to understand the effectiveness of the code concerning shipping dangerous goods across the oceans and the marine life-forms that exist in them.

Author’s Bio: Author is an avid blogger. This article is about IMDG Code.