Dangerous goods declaration

Dangerous goods declaration
See also
Shipping documents Shipping note Ocean bill of lading Advice of shipment Dispatch note Cargo manifest Buck slip Master bill of lading Waybill

Dangerous goods declaration is crucial for transporting such goods. For sea transportation, the consignment must go with a document containing information of the dangerous goods’ nature. Dangerous Goods Note (DGN) shows Merchant Shipping's requirements (P. Brodie 2006, P. 135). SOLAS Convention and the IMDG Code requires describing dangerous goods in a document and providing supplementary information. The document may take any form (layout of the form is not mandatory), as long as it contains all the required by IMDG Code information. Additionally, dangerous goods transport document should have a certificate that the load is acceptable for transportation and the goods are appropriately packed, marked and labelled (M. D. Güner-Özbek 2008 P. 111-112) .

Container and vehicle packaging certificate and declaration

For container and/or vehicle, declaration requires the name of the company, place and date of signing, responsible person's signature and status of the declarant. It's function is different than dangerous goods declaration and they are most often signed by different people. They are often included in one document. Container and vehicle packaging certificate and declaration must be signed by person responsible for loading dangerous goods to container/vehicle (P. Brodie 2006, P. 137). The use of Electronic Data Processing or Electronic Data Interchange instead of paper documentation is allowed, providing that the electronics data meet requirements (United Nations ADR 2017, 5.4.0.2).

Dangerous goods

Goods that are potentially dangerous, for example inflammable or toxic. For maritime transport, in ports there are special terminals for receiving, storing and loading such goods. Those terminals provide fire-resistant walls, good ventilation and sprinkler system. Some shipping lines charge additional hazardous cargo surcharge or hazardous cargo additional which most often takes form of monetary amount (P. Brodie 2006, P. 135).

Dangerous goods classification

There are two classifications describing dangerous goods, ADR/RID and IMDG. They are not identical.

ADR/ADI classification (P. Brodie 2006, P. 138):

• Class 1 Explosive substances
• Class 2 Gases
• Class 3 Inflammable liquids
• Class 4.1 Inflammable solids
• Class 4.3 Substances liable to combustion
• Class 5.1 Oxidising substances
• Class 5.2 Organic peroxides
• Class 6.1 Toxic substances
• Class 6.2 Substances liable to cause infection
• Class 7 Radioactive substances
• Class 8 Corrosive substances
• Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances

IMDG classification (P. Brodie 2006, P. 138):

• Class 1 Explosives
• Class 1.1 Substances and articles with a mass explosion hazard
• Class 1.2 Substances and articles with a projection hazard, but not a massive explosion hazard
• Class 1.3 Substances and articles with a fire hazard and minor blast or projection hazard, but not a mass explosion hazard
• Class 1.4 Substances and articles which have no significant hazard
• Class 1.5 Very intensive substances with a mass explosion hazard
• Class 1.6 Extremely intensive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

References

• Brodie P. (2006)., Commercial Shipping Handbook second edition, Informa Law from Routledge, New York
• Güner-Özbek M. D, (2008)., The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by the Sea, Springer, Istanbul
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (2017)., European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road ADR 2017 Volume I
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (2017)., European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways ADN 2017 Volume I
• Weidmann M., Silman N., Butaye P. Elschner M. (2013)., Working in Biosafety level 3 and 4 Laboratories A Practical Introduction, Wiley Blackwell

Author: Karolina Liskiewicz