The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted stricter regulations for the transport of charcoal in order to reduce the risk of fire at sea.
The new regulations will come into force voluntarily from January 2025 and will be mandatory from January 2026. The German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) welcomes the new regulations and is in favour of implementing them as soon as possible.
“The new rules not only protect crew and cargo, but also send a clear signal for responsible shipping,” emphasises VDR Managing Director Martin Kröger. The association is appealing to all those involved in transportation to support the voluntary implementation of these regulations from the beginning of 2025.
Between 2015 and 2022, there were 68 fires on container ships that were directly linked to the transportation of charcoal. These serious incidents highlighted the urgent need to improve the safe handling of charcoal.
“Charcoal packaging is needed”
The new regulations stipulate that charcoal must be declared exclusively as dangerous goods UN1361. New packaging and loading requirements will also apply in future. “This is an important milestone in preventing fires on board,” says Manuel Weber, Senior Director Dangerous Goods at Hapag-Lloyd.
However, further regulatory measures must follow. Above all, specific charcoal packaging is needed to prevent self-heating or self-ignition. “Unfortunately, false declarations and non-compliance with charcoal production safety standards continue to pose a high risk,” says Weber.
The new regulations are set out in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Codes (IMDG) and stipulate that charcoal must be stored for at least 14 days after production due to the weather or packaged in an inert gas atmosphere. The packaging must not be warmer than 40°C and transportation in containers without packaging is no longer permitted. In addition, load carrier units must have a minimum clearance of 30 cm and comply with specific requirements, particularly with regard to labelling and storage.
