MASS UK Industry Conduct Principles and Code of Practice 2022 (V6)

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Carriage and Transfer of Cargo
(including Dangerous Goods)
19.2.6 For MASS engaged on international voyages, the ‘Operator’ of the MASS has the obligation to contact the port
of arrival and/or departure Administration prior to arrival to agree that this Code standard for the carriage of
dangerous goods is acceptable to them, including the additional constraints implicit and mitigating the MASS
operation risk assurance assessment.
19.1 OBJECTIVE
19.3 CARGO DEMARCATION
The carriage and transfer of cargoes under MASS operations should be conducted in an acceptable
safe manner to maintain all practical equivalence to the prescribed regulations for conventional
shipping. This Chapter of the CoP offers guidance to MASS Owners and Operators in the interpretation
of their ‘Duty of Care’ to be considered in conjunction with the MASS Definitions, Operations and
Certification within this Code.
19.2 SCOPE
19.2.1 The carriage and transfer of cargo (including dangerous goods) by sea is controlled in order to prevent injury to
persons or damage to ships and their cargoes and to prevent pollution of the marine environment under normal
operating conditions. Dangerous goods are cargoes classified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods
(IMDG) Code which is given force of law through the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine
Pollutants) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2367), as amended and applies to all vessels irrespective of size in
UK (navigable) waters. MASS operations will be dictated by the operational requirements of the MASS and
carriage of all cargoes should be subject to a risk based safety assessment.
19.2.2 This Chapter is divided into the following sub-sections:
19.3.1 The carriage of cargo is the process whereby a vessel, including MASS, is loaded, or intended to be loaded, with
any item for delivery to, or collection from, one location and loading/unloading at another location.
19.3.2 Cargo can be divided into:
n General cargo – securing and other carriage requirements are Regulated through the Merchant Shipping
(Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999 (Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 336).
n Dangerous goods – cargoes which are classified as dangerous goods according to the criteria given in the
IMDG Code are regulated through the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants)
Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2367). Dangerous goods are assigned, and identified by, United Nations (UN)
Numbers and Proper Shipping Names according to their hazard classification. Their system of containment
systems, e.g. portable tanks, IRCC, drums etc must comply with the requirements of the IMDG Code with a
minimum of equivalence to achieve operating certification of MASS.
n Clear warnings that a MASS is carrying ‘Dangerous goods’ must be displayed in all appropriate spaces where
personnel may board the vessel in any eventuality, and during normal ops i.e. safety checks, loading and
unloading, maintenance etc.
19.3.3 Vessels where bulk cargo is loaded into and carried in the vessels hold or tanks which are considered to be small
tankers or bulk carriers should be certified in accordance with the provisions of equivalent standards, recognising
the MASS definitions and operational employment constraints thereto.
n Cargo demarcation;
n Ships stores;
n Construction and certification requirements;
n Operational considerations including emergency and spillage provisions;
n Transfer arrangements of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and equivalents from designated tanks;
n Transfer arrangements from portable tanks (greater than 450 litres) or intermediate bulk containers (IRCC);
n Transfer arrangements for receptacles less than 200 litres;
n Dangerous Goods Classes (listing).
19.2.3 Control of dangerous goods is intended to cover all dangerous goods carried as cargo on any vessel. This includes
any specialist equipment which may be classified as dangerous cargo when carried by crew or workers in the
event of partial manned operations.
19.2.4 When carrying dangerous goods identified in the IMDG Code, the vessel, including MASS, is required to have a
Document of Compliance for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods issued by the Administration regardless of the
quantities being shipped and held by the ‘Operating’ authority for all MASS operations.
19.2.5 Dangerous goods may only be carried at the same time as personnel on MASS holding a Document of
Compliance only where such workers or industrial personnel are carried on the express business of the MASS
in the event of partial manned operations.
19.4 SHIPS’ STORES
19.4.1 The IMO definition of ships’ stores (MSC.1/Circ.1216) is as follows:
n Ships’ stores, for the purposes of the carriage of dangerous goods, means materials which are on board a
ship for the upkeep, maintenance, safety, operation or navigation of the ship (except for fuel and compressed
air used for the ship’s primary propulsion machinery or fixed auxiliary equipment) or for the safety or comfort
of the ship’s crew or workers in the event of partial manned operations;
n Materials intended for use in commercial operations by a ship are not considered as ships’ stores, such as:
diving, surveying and salvage operations.
19.4.2 For the purpose of this Code, when a total quantity of 25kg/25litres of the following dangerous goods are carried
and used on board light, small and large categories of MASS, of Classes 2.1, 2.2, 3, 6.1, 8 and 9, such materials
can be considered as ships’ stores and the MASS does not require a dangerous goods document of compliance.
These materials can be specialist equipment to support the function of the MASS, in order to facilitate the specific
tasks for which they are designed. Examples of such materials/specialist equipment would be compressed air
bottles, portable generators/compressors etc.
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MASS UK Industry Conduct Principles and Code of Practice Version 6
MASS UK Industry Conduct Principles and Code of Practice Version 6 133