Question : Compliance of IMDG Code

(a) whether the Government is aware that the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code specifies guidelines for safe transportation/shipment of hazardous materials/dangerous goods by water on vessel and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the said code is being implemented properly to prevent accidents of fire/explosion and ensure utmost safety of the ship and its crew while handling dangerous cargo on board and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure that all the ports and cargo vessels are compliant with the said code; and
(d) the details of incidents of accidents involving Indian cargo vessels due to noncompliance of said code and inappropriate handling of hazardous/flammable cargo during the last three years and the current year?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a): Yes, Madam. The Government is aware that the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code specifies guidelines for safe transportation/shipment of hazardous material/dangerous goods by water on vessel. The provisions of the IMDG Code prescribe the requirement to load, stow and handle dangerous goods in packaged form carried by ships to sea comprising classification of IMDG cargo into different classes and packaging groups based on risk etc. IMDG Code also provides unique four digit U.N. Number for the IMDG cargo.

(b): Yes, Madam. The IMDG Code is being implemented in India to prevent accidents of fire/explosion and ensure the utmost safety of ships and their crew while handling dangerous cargo on board Indian merchant ships as per the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargo) Rules, 1995.

(c) Merchant Shipping Notices have been issuedby Directorate General of Shipping for safe carriage of dangerous goods by sea in accordance with the provisions of IMDG Code on 19.5.2010 and “issuance of Document of compliance for the carriage of dangerous goods on Indian flag cargo ships” on 27.4.2016. Foreign flag merchant ships when at Indian ports are inspected under the Port State Control (PSC) inspection regime for verification with regard to IMDG code compliance.

(d): No incident of accidents including Indian cargo vessels due to non compliance of IMDG Code has been reported during the last three years i.e. 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and the current year 2016-17.

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