With regard to maritime transport, a distinction is made between
dangerous goods in packaged form and goods carried in bulk. Bulk
transport means that the product is loaded directly into a cargo
hold in the ship without any further containment. Large quantities
are often carried at the same time. Bulk cargoes may be solid,
liquid or condensed gaseous products.
The Swedish Transport Agency issues regulations on maritime
transport of bulk cargoes based on
- The Ship Safety Act (2003:364)
- The Ship Safety Ordinance (2003:438)
- The Act (1980:424) on prevention of pollution from
ships
- The Ordinance (1980:789) on prevention of pollution from
ships
Different products constitute different risks and certain
substances are not permitted to be carried in bulk on ships.
Certain cargoes present particular danger when they are carried in
bulk, such as sawdust and unslaked lime. When liquid or gaseous
products are carried in bulk, the ship must always be constructed
with cargo holds in the form of special tanks.
Substances that have no chemical properties
that are “dangerous” must still be handled and loaded
according to special rules due to their physical
properties. If these properties are not properly observed, the
stability of the ship may be impaired.
Regulations that must be followed when transporting bulk cargoes
in ships according to the Swedish Transport Agency's
regulations:
Solid bulk cargoes
- The IMSBC Code (International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes
Code)
- The BLU Code (Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and
Unloading of Bulk Carriers)
Liquid bulk cargoes
- The IBC Code (International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk)
- The BCH Code (International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk)
Gaseous bulk cargoes
- The IGC Code (International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk)