INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
E
IMO
SUB-COMMITTEE ON DANGEROUS
GOODS, SOLID CARGOES AND
CONTAINERS
12th session
Agenda items 4 & 5
DSC 12/4/18
27 July 2007
Original: English
AMENDMENTS TO THE BC CODE, INCLUDING EVALUATION OF PROPERTIES
OF SOLID BULK CARGOES
MANDATORY APPLICATION OF THE BC CODE
Comments on the draft revised BC Code
Submitted by Japan
SUMMARY
Executive summary:
This document proposes some amendments to the draft revised texts
in Appendix 1 to the mandatory BC Code prepared by the
correspondence group
Action to be taken:
Paragraph 18
Related documents:
DSC 12/4/8, DSC 12/4/9 and DSC 12/4/10
1
This document is submitted in accordance with paragraph 4.10.5 of the Guidelines on the
organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine
Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies (MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.1) and
contains comments on the documents DSC 12/4/8, DSC 12/4/9 and DSC 12/4/10, i.e., parts 5 to 7 of
the report of the correspondence group on amendments to the BC Code and its mandatory
application.
STOWAGE & SEGREGATION for COAL
2
The Correspondence Group prepared the following amendment to clause 5 in the section
for STOWAGE & SEGREGATION in the appendix to the individual schedule for BROWN
COAL BRIQUETTES (DSC 12/4/10, annex 4):
The briquette cargo This cargo shall not be stowed adjacent to hot areas sources of heat.
3
Japan concurs with the proposed amendment for the reason of clarity. Japan proposes
the following amendment to the similar sentence in clause 4 in the section for “Segregation and
stowage requirements” in the appendix to the individual schedule for COAL for clarification:
The master shall ensure that the coal This cargo is shall not be stowed adjacent to hot
areas sources of heat.
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For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are
kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.
DSC 12/4/18
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4
Japan further proposes to replace the heading of the section “Segregation and stowage
requirements” by “STOWAGE & SEGREGATION” for consistency.
Sealing hatches for COAL
5
The sentence “The hatch covers can also be additionally sealed with a suitable sealing
tape” in clause 8 in the section for LOADING in the appendix to the individual schedule for
BROWN COAL BRIQUETTES was deleted in the draft revised text prepared by the
correspondence group (DSC 12/4/10, annex 4). Japan supports the deletion. Meanwhile, the
same sentence has been retained, with a slight amendment, in clause .1 in the sub-section for
“Self-heating coals” in the section for “Special Precautions” in the appendix to the individual
schedule for COAL. Japan considers the sentence should be deleted to avoid unnecessary
variety of requirements for similar cargoes.
Prohibition of pumping for AMMONIUM NITRATE and AMMONIUM NITRATE
BASED FERTILIZERs
6
The sentence “Bunkering or pumping of fuel oil shall not be allowed” is included in the
draft revised text in the sections for LOADING and DISCHARGE in the individual schedules for
the following cargoes, (DSC 12/4/8, annex 8 and DSC 12/4/10, annex 2):
AMMONIUM NITRATE UN 1942;
AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER UN 2067;
AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER UN 2071; and
AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER (non-hazardous).
7
The sentence may be interpreted that all pumping of fuel oil including those to electric
generators in the engine room shall be prohibited. To prevent such an unrealistic interpretation,
the sentence should be revised to clarify the scope of prohibition of bunkering or pumping.
Japan proposes to replace the sentence “Bunkering or pumping of fuel oil shall not be allowed”
by the following:
“Bunkering of fuel oil shall not be allowed. Pumping of fuel oil in spaces adjacent to
the cargo spaces for this cargo, other than machinery spaces, shall not be allowed.”
Temperature monitoring during voyage for AMMONIUM NITRATE UN 1942
8
Temperature monitoring during voyage is required for AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED
FERTILIZERs (UN 2067, UN 2071 and non-hazardous) (DSC 12/4/10, annex 1, paragraph 2).
Japan considers that the same requirement should apply to AMMONIUM NITRATE UN 1942.
Approval procedure of gas-tightness of bulkheads
9
Gas-tightness of bulkheads to the engine rooms are referred to in the draft revised text as
follows:
-
“The bulkheads between the cargo spaces and the engine-room shall be gastight
and shall be inspected and approved by the competent authority” in the section for
PRECAUTIONS in the individual schedules for ALUMINIUM FERROSILICON
POWDER UN 1395 and ALUMINIUM SILICON POWDER, UNCOATED
UN 1398 (DSC 12/4/9, annex 1);
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“Bulkheads between the cargo spaces and the engine-room shall be gastight” in
the section for PRECAUTIONS in the individual schedule for ALUMINIUM
SMELTING BY-PRODUCTS OR ALUMINIUM REMELTING BY-PRODUCT
UN 3170; and
-
“Prior to loading, the bulkheads to the engine room shall be inspected and
approved by the competent authority as gastight and the safety of the bilge
pumping arrangements shall be approved by the competent authority” in the
section for DETAILED REQUIREMENTS in the appendices to the individual
schedules for FERROSILICON UN 1408 and FERROSILICON (MHB).
10
The sentence for UN 3170 does not provide for a concrete requirement, while the
sentences for UN 1395 & UN 1398 and for UN 1408 and FERROSILICON (MHB) set out
substantially the same requirements. Japan considers that clarification is necessary for these
sentences for the implementation and enforcement of the requirements. Thus, Japan invites the
Sub-Committee to review the above mentioned sentences. In general, bulkheads between cargo
spaces and the engine-room are gastight and the integrity of the bulkheads is certified by a flag
State. To ensure the integrity of the bulkheads, visual inspection is reasonable and practicable.
Thus, Japan prepared the following text for consideration by the Sub-Committee:
“The bulkheads between the cargo spaces and the engine-room shall be gastight.
The condition of the bulkheads shall be inspected visually by [the master/the competent
authority]. Openings of the bulkhead, if exist, shall be certified by a test to ensure
gas-tightness.”
Temperature monitoring during loading for FERROUS METAL BORINGS, SHAVINGS,
TURNINGS or CUTTINGS UN 2793
11
The second sentence in draft revised text in the section for PRECAUTIONS in the
individual schedule for FERROUS METAL BORINGS, SHAVINGS, TURNINGS or
CUTTINGS UN 2793 is “The temperature shall be measured at points between 200 mm and
350 mm from the surface of the cargo pile” (DSC 12/4/9, annex 1, paragraph 33). Japan
proposes the following amendment to the second sentence for clarification:
“The temperature of the cargo in the stock yard shall be measured at points
between 200 mm and 350 mm from the surface of the cargo pile.”
Prevention of corrosion for PYRITES, CALCINED (Calcined Pyrites)
12
The sentence “The tanktop on which this cargo is to be loaded shall be covered with lime
before loading” is included in the draft revised text in the section for PRECAUTIONS in the
individual schedule for PYRITES, CALCINED (Calcined Pyrites) (DSC 12/4/9, annex 1,
paragraph 46). Taking into account the agreement of the correspondence group on the similar
requirement for SALT (DSC 12/4/9, paragraph 22), Japan proposes the following amendment to
the sentence for PYRITES, CALCINED (Calcined Pyrites):
The tanktop on which this cargo is to be loaded shall be covered with lime washed or
coated with paint to prevent corrosion before loading.
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Mechanical ventilation for PIG IRON
13
The draft revised ventilation requirement in the individual schedule for PIG IRON is
“Mechanical surface ventilation shall be conducted during the voyage, as necessary, for the cargo
spaces carrying this cargo” (Standard_Ventilation_Text_4). On the other hand, no hazard is
pointed out in the section for HAZARD in the schedule. Furthermore, based on the experience
of Japanese shipping companies, this cargo is merely heavy but no chemical reaction has been
reported. Thus, Japan is of the opinion that the text for the section for VENTILATION in the
schedule should be replaced by “No special requirements”.
Editorial corrections
14
The cargo names in the sections for DESCRIPTION in the individual schedules for
ALUMINIUM
SMELTING
BY-PRODUCTS
OR
ALUMINIUM
REMELTING
BY-PRODUCTUN 3170 and for SAND are expressed in capital letters, while these names are
not BCSNs. Change these cargo names to appear in plain print.
15
The amendment set out in paragraph 9 in annex 2 to the document DSC 12/4/8 should be
deleted, because “the existing text” does not exist in the section for DESCRIPTION in the
schedule for AMMONIUM NITRATE UN 1942. The last sentence in the prepared amendment
to the text in the section for HAZARD in the individual schedule, as set out in paragraph 4 in
annex 4 to the document, should be replaced by the sentence “Ammonium nitrate dust might be
irritating to skin and mucous membranes”.
16
The text in the section for CARRIAGE in the schedule for LINTED COTTON SEED
should be replaced by “Standard_WT_Text”, i.e., “Hatches of the cargo spaces carrying this
cargo shall be weathertight to prevent the ingress of water” (c.f. paragraph 2 in the document
DSC 12/4/10).
17
The sentences “Do not ventilate” in the sections for VENTILATION in the schedules for
CEMENT and CEMENT CLINKERS should be replaced by “Standard_Ventilation_Text_1”, i.e.,
“The cargo spaces carrying this cargo shall not be ventilated during voyage” (DSC 12/4/9,
paragraph 30).
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
18
The Sub-Committee is invited to consider the proposed amendments and take action as
appropriate.
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