In dangerous goods transport regulations+ of sea, IMDG Code, substances (including mixtures and solutions) and articles are assigned to one of the classes 1 to 9 according to the hazard or the most predominant of the hazards they present. Some of these classes are subdivided into divisions.
These classes or divisions are as listed below:
Class 1: Explosives
Division 1.1: substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2: substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass
explosion hazard
Division 1.3: substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor
blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass
explosion hazard
Division 1.4: substances and articles which present no significant hazard
Division 1.5: very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.6: extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion
Hazard
Class 2: Gases
Class 2.1: flammable gases
Class 2.2: non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Class 2.3: toxic gases
Class 3: Flammable liquids
Class 4: Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Class 4.1: flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized
Explosives
Class 4.2: substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Class 4.3: substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Class 5: Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
Class 5.1: oxidizing substances
Class 5.2: organic peroxides
Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
Class 6.1: toxic substances
Class 6.2: infectious substances
Class 7: Radioactive material
Class 8: Corrosive substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
The numerical order of the classes and divisions is not that of the degree of danger.
Marine Pollutants
As per IMDG Code any substance which are subject to the provisions of Annex III of
MARPOL 73/78, as amended is a MARINE POLLUTANT. These substances or articles are identified as such in column 4 of Dangerous Goods List in Volume 2 of the said Code.
Packing Groups
For packing purposes, substances* are assigned to three packing groups in accordance with the degree of danger they present:
Packing group I: substances presenting high danger;
Packing group II: substances presenting medium danger; and
Packing group III: substances presenting low danger.
*classes 1, 2, 5.2, 6.2 and 7, and self-reactive substances of class 4.1 are not assigned with Packing Groups
Wastes
While transporting wastes by sea the goods shall be assigned to the class or division considering their properties and shall be consigned as per the relevant rules. However when wastes not subject to any criteria of IMDG Code but belonging to the notification requirement of BASEL Convention may be transported as Class 9
+ Based on UN Model Regulations, for latest edition click here