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.
The publication contains regulatory provisions for the transport of the potentially combustible commodity, which is commonly shipped in volume, explaining these measures and providing additional guidance for those involved in the international supply chain.
The packaging, declaration, and transport of charcoal must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
Significant new provisions have now been agreed by the International Maritime Organization and will come into transitional effect from 1 January next year, with mandatory compliance required as of 2026.
The Amendment means charcoal will no longer benefit from any IMDG code exemption, however the guidelines strongly recommend early adoption of the new regulations, explaining in detail how compliance may be achieved.
The CINS Guidelines, a collaboration with IG P&I 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 year”.
“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 what is used for art materials, which have a different risk profile, urging carriers to establish effective due diligence processes.
The publishers, in view of the sensitivity of the cargo and history of incidents, recommend it should be treated as dangerous goods, regardless of current or previous regulatory provisions.
