Thursday, 13 January 2011

IMDG Code 2010 and transportation of vehicles by sea

Amendments related to the transportation of vehicles by sea as put in the new edition of the IMDG Code.
UN 3166 Engines, internal combustion, flammable gas powered:
“Engine, Internal Combustion Or Vehicle, Flammable Gas Powered Or Vehicle, Flammable Liquid Powered Or Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered Or Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered Or Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered Or Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered.”

UN 3171 Battery-Powered Vehicle or Battery-Powered Equipment:
"Types of articles transported under this entry include vehicles or equipment powered by wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries with the batteries installed, such as electrically-powered cars, lawnmowers, wheelchairs and other mobility aids."

New special provisions related to the carriage of vehicles and engines:

"SP312. Vehicles or machinery powered by a fuel cell engine shall be consigned under the entries UN 3166 Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered or UN 3166 Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered, or UN 3166 Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered or UN 3166 Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered, as appropriate.

“These entries include hybrid electric vehicles powered by both a fuel cell and an internal combustion engine with wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries, transported with the battery(ies) installed.

“Other vehicles which contain an internal combustion engine shall be consigned under the entries UN 3166 Vehicle, Flammable Gas Powered Or UN 3166 Vehicle, Flammable Liquid Powered, as appropriate.

“These entries include hybrid electric vehicles powered by both an internal combustion engine and wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries, transported with the batteries installed.”

“SP961. Vehicles and equipment are not subject to the provisions of this Code if they are stowed on a roll-on/roll-off ship or in another cargo space designated by the Administration (flag State) as specifically designed and approved for the carriage of vehicles and equipment and there are no signs of leakage from the battery, engine, fuel cell, compressed gas cylinder or accumulator, or fuel tank when applicable.

“In addition, vehicles and equipment are not subject to the provisions of this Code if any of the following conditions are met:

1) The fuel tank(s) of the vehicle or equipment powered by a flammable liquid fuel is empty and installed batteries are protected from short circuit;
2) The fuel tank(s) of the vehicle or equipment powered by a flammable gas is emptied of liquefied or compressed gas, the positive pressure in the tank does not exceed 2 bar, the fuel shutoff or isolation valve is and secured, and installed batteries are protected from short circuit; or
3) The vehicle or equipment is solely powered by a wet or dry electric storage battery or a sodium battery, and the battery is protected from short circuit.

“SP 962. Vehicles or equipment powered by internal combustion engines, fuel cells or batteries not meeting the conditions of special provision 961 shall be assigned to class 9 and shall meet the following requirements:

1) Vehicles and equipment shall not show signs of leakage from batteries, engines, fuel cells, compressed gas cylinders or accumulators, or fuel tank(s) when applicable;
2) For flammable liquid powered vehicles and equipment, the fuel tank(s) containing the flammable liquid shall not be more than one-fourth full and in any case the flammable liquid shall not exceed 250l;
3) For flammable gas powered vehicles and equipment, the fuel shut-off valve of the fuel tank(s) shall be securely closed;
4) Installed batteries shall be protected from damage, short circuit and accidental activation during transport. Lithium ion or lithium metal batteries shall meet the requirements of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3, unless otherwise approved by the competent authority; and
5) Dangerous goods required for the operation of the vehicle or equipment such as fire extinguishers, compressed gas accumulators, airbag inflators, etc, shall be securely mounted in the vehicle or equipment.

“The marking, labelling and placarding provisions of this Code shall not apply."

One could as well read more on Dangerous Goods on pages of Shashi Kallada's blog. Particularly his posts relevant to this one, namely: UN 3166 VEHICLE, Vehicle and Dangerous Goods, and 3166 Vehicle and Placarding.

New IMDG Code
2010 is available
at Amazon.com

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