IMDG Code Dangerous Goods, SOLAS II-2/19 DoC-DG, Segregation & EmS/MFAG Inspection Guide

Before accepting any packaged dangerous goods (or solid bulk cargo possessing chemical hazards under the IMSBC Code Group B), the Chief Officer must verify the ship’s Document of Compliance for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (DoC-DG) issued under SOLAS regulation II-2/19.4. Every cargo hold and weather-deck bay is individually assessed against SOLAS II-2/19 Tables 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3:

Under SOLAS Chapter VII Part A, carriage of packaged dangerous goods must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code — with Amendment 42-24 (IMO Res. MSC.556(108)) mandatory from 1 January 2026 and Amendment 43-26 open for voluntary application from 1 January 2027 (mandatory 1 January 2028).

• Stowage Categories A to E (IMDG Code § 7.1.3): Every UN Number in the Dangerous Goods List (Chapter 3.2 Column 16a) is assigned a stowage category from Category A (on deck or under deck on cargo ships) through Category B, C and D (often restricted to "on deck only" or limited passenger numbers) to Category E (on deck or under deck on cargo ships, prohibited on passenger ships) plus specific Stowage Codes (SW1–SW31) such as SW1 — Protected from sources of heat and SW2 — Clear of living quarters.
• General Segregation Table (IMDG Code § 7.2.4) & Specific Segregation Codes (SG1–SG78): Incompatible classes and individual UN numbers must be separated according to four numeric segregation levels (Terms 1 to 4), modified on container ships, Ro-Ro ships and breakbulk vessels by the container-space rules in Chapters 7.4 to 7.7.

Under SOLAS regulation VII/4 (as amended by IMO Resolution MSC.325(90)) and IMDG Code Chapter 5.4, no packaged dangerous goods may be offered for shipment or loaded on board unless the documentation chain is complete and verified before departure:

• Dangerous Goods Transport Document (IMDG Code § 5.4.1): Verify that every booking has a signed shipper’s declaration showing the exact sequence of UN Number, Proper Shipping Name (supplemented by technical name in brackets for N.O.S. entries), Primary Class (and Subsidiary Hazard in brackets), Packing Group (I, II or III), number and type of packages, total mass/volume, minimum closed-cup flashpoint (mandatory if ≤ 60°C), and "MARINE POLLUTANT" notation where applicable under MARPOL Annex III.
• Container / Vehicle Packing Certificate (IMDG Code § 5.4.2): When dangerous goods are packed or loaded into any freight container or road vehicle (CTU), those responsible for packing must provide a signed Container/Vehicle Packing Certificate certifying that the container was clean, dry and fit to receive the goods, no incompatible packages were packed together, all packages were inspected for damage and properly braced/secured in accordance with the IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code (MSC.1/Circ.1497), and all four exterior sides bear durable Class placards (≥ 250 mm × 250 mm) and UN numbers where required.
• Dangerous Goods Manifest or Stowage Plan (SOLAS VII/4.2 & FAL Form 7): Before departure, the ship must compile a special list, manifest or detailed stowage plan setting forth the dangerous goods on board and their exact stowage location by bay/row/tier or cargo hold. Under SOLAS VII/4.4, a copy of this document must be made available before departure to the person or organization designated by the Port State Authority and retained ashore until the goods are discharged.

Every ship carrying packaged dangerous goods must carry the current IMDG Code Supplement containing the Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide, MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.2 / Rev.3 / Rev.4) and the Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG, MSC/Circ.857):

• Fire Schedules (F-A to F-J) & Spill Schedules (S-A to S-Z): Column 15 of the Dangerous Goods List assigns an underlined and non-underlined F-schedule (for on-deck vs under-deck fire-fighting, noting whether water spray, foam, dry chemical or total CO₂ flooding should be used and where water is reactive/prohibited) and an S-schedule (for spillage containment, wash-down vs dry sweep, and SCBA/chemical suit precautions). Under IMO MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.4 (2026), verify updated schedules for battery-powered vehicles and lithium/sodium-ion cells.
• MFAG Medical Kit & Antidotes: Verify with the Master and medical officer that the ship’s medicine chest holds the required MFAG List A/B/C antidotes and oxygen resuscitation apparatus (40 L/min capacity for two casualties) whenever toxic or corrosive IMDG cargoes are carried.
• Reporting Loss or Likely Loss of Dangerous Goods (SOLAS VII/6 & MARPOL Protocol I): When an incident takes place involving the actual or likely loss overboard of packaged dangerous goods into the sea, the Master must report the particulars without delay and to the fullest extent possible to the nearest coastal State in accordance with IMO Resolution A.851(20) (Harmful Substances Report — HS / DG report).

• Cross-check every DG container/package on the preliminary load list against the ship’s SOLAS II-2/19.4 Document of Compliance (DoC-DG) hold/deck matrix before approving the terminal stowage plan.
• Verify both between-container segregation (IMDG Table 7.2.4 & container-space rules in Ch. 7.4) and within-container compatibility (signed Container Packing Certificate under § 5.4.2).
• Confirm that containers requiring temperature control, mechanical ventilation or routine inspection (such as Class 4.1 self-reactive substances, Class 5.2 organic peroxides, or Class 9 lithium-ion battery containers) are stowed in accessible positions clear of living quarters and heat sources.
• Before loading under-deck DG cargo, log in the deck logbook: (1) physical isolation/lockout of non-Ex electrical circuits in the hold; (2) isolation/blanking of hold bilge suctions to the machinery space; (3) functional test of hold smoke/fire detection and fixed CO₂/water-spray valves; and (4) operational test of hold mechanical exhaust fans and flame/spark arresters.
• Walk the deck after loading to verify that every DG container has intact 4-sided placards, undamaged door seals, zero weeping or odour at the door gaskets, and a posted copy of the signed FAL Form 7 Dangerous Goods Manifest / Stowage Plan on the bridge and in the exterior weathertight Fire Control Plan tube.