New “Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers” have been issued by CINS, with the cooperation of the international Group (IG) of P&I insurance providers and TT Club. The regulatory requirements for transport by sea are outlined and additional precautionary measures proposed.
London, 3rd October 2024
The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS), a safety initiative representing container shipping lines and maritime insurance interests has launched its latest advisory publication, ‘Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers’. It contains the provisions set out in the maritime dangerous goods regulations for the transport of this potentially combustible commodity, which is commonly shipped in volume, explaining these measures and providing additional guidance for all involved in this complex international supply chain.
The packaging, declaration and transport of charcoal must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Significant new provisions have been agreed by the IMO (Amendment 42-24) and will come into transitional effect from 1 January 2025 with mandatory compliance required as of 2026. The Amendment means charcoal will no longer benefit from any IMDG code exemption. The Guidelines however strongly recommend early adoption of the new regulations and explain in detail how compliance may be achieved.
The CINS Guidelines, prepared and published in conjunction with the IG and international freight and logistics insurer TT Club, states, “It is estimated that global production of charcoal for domestic and export markets is over 50 million tonnes per year¹. From the incident records created by CINS members, it is known that there were at least 68 fire incidents on board ships between January 2015 and December 2022. Most of these incidents were caused by misdeclared cargo and therefore the carrier was not aware of the hazards presented.”
The practices set out in the document are intended to address safety concerns, recognising that the key driver for change arises from charcoal intended as a fuel for burning. The guidance also notes that there are other technical types of charcoal, such as used for art materials, which have a different risk profile, urging carriers to establish effective due diligence processes.
In view of the sensitivity of this fuel cargo and history of incidents, the publishers are recommending that it should be treated as dangerous goods, regardless of current or previous regulatory provisions. It is vital to ensure that this cargo is properly prepared, declared and packaged for safe transportation.
To download the Guidelines, click on this link: CINS CHARCOAL GUIDELINES
¹2020 Global Forest Products Facts and Figures of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (https://www.fao.org/ faostat/en/#data/FO)
About CINS — Cargo Incident Notification System
CINS is a shipping line initiative, launched in September 2011, to improve safety in the supply chain, reduce the number of cargo incidents on-board ships and on land, and highlight the risks caused by certain cargoes and/or packing failures. Membership of CINS comprises over 80 percent of the world’s container slot capacity, together with the Members of the International Group of P&I Clubs.
CINS provides analysis of operational information on cargo and container incidents which lead to injury or loss of life, loss or serious damage of assets, environmental concerns. Data relating to any cargo incident on-board a ship is uploaded to the CINS database. The data includes information on cargo type, nature, packaging, weight; journey (load and discharge ports); type of incident and root cause. The Technical Advisory Committee is a CINS committee that includes Members of CINS and leading professional experts in relevant fields.
About The International Group of P&I Clubs (the International Group)
The International Group is comprised of 12 P&I Clubs that between them provide marine liability cover (protection and indemnity) for approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.
Through the unique International Group structure, the member Clubs, whilst individually competitive, share between them their large loss exposures, and also share their respective knowledge and expertise on matters relating to shipowners’ liabilities and the insurance and reinsurance of such liabilities.
Each Group Club is an independent, not-for-profit mutual insurance association, providing cover for its shipowner and charterer members against third party liabilities arising out of the use and operation of ships. Each Club is owned by its shipowner and charterer members, and its operations and activities are overseen by a board of directors, or committee, elected from the membership. The day-to-day operations of the Clubs are handled by professional managers, either “in-house” or external, who are appointed by and report to their Club board/committee.
The Clubs cover a wide range of liabilities, including loss of life and personal injury to crew, passengers and others on board, cargo loss and damage, pollution by oil and other hazardous substances, wreck removal, collision and damage to property. The Clubs also provide a wide range of services to their members including claims handling, advice on legal issues and loss prevention, and they regularly play a leading role in coordinating the response to, and management of, maritime casualties.
The International Group of P&I Clubs (igpandi.org)
About TT Club
TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. The Club’s services include specialist underwriting, claims management and risk and loss management advice, supported by a global office network. TT Club’s mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable.
Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies. Its membership covers the entire logistics journey, working across maritime, road, rail, and air ranging from some of the world’s largest logistics operators to smaller, bespoke companies managing similar risks. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years.
TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller – an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.