4.1 In case of pure or technically pure chemicals,
the Administration of the shipping or producing country will provisionally
assess the pollution category, the ship type and the carriage requirements,
on the basis of the pollution and safety data supplied by the manufacturer/shipper.
4.2 The following reference documents provide
guidance for the Administration to assess the new chemical's pollution
hazard:
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.1 Guidelines for the Categorization of Noxious
Liquid Substances (MARPOL 73/78, Annex II,
appendix 1);
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.2 Interpretation of the Guidelines for the Categorization
of Noxious Liquid Substances (see annex
4);
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.3 Abbreviated Legend to the Hazard Profiles (see annex 5);
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.4 Criteria for establishing ship type requirements
from the marine pollution point of view (annex
6); and
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.5 Part B - "Marine pollution hazard" of the Criteria
for hazard evaluation of bulk chemicals, attached to the IBC Code.
4.3 The first step for the Administration is to
check the latest composite list of hazard profiles of substances carried
by ship, issued periodically by IMO under cover of a BCH circular.
4.4 If a hazard profile can be found for the chemical
in question, its pollution category should be derived from it in accordance
with references 4.2.1 and 4.2.2. The ship type and carriage requirements,
in so far as the pollution hazard is concerned, should be derived
from reference 4.2.5.
4.5 If no hazard profile exists, all the available
data to establish one should be reviewed.
4.6 When adequate data are available, a provisional
hazard profile should be derived, following the criteria developed
by GESAMP (see reference 4.2.3). The pollution category should be
derived from this provisional hazard profile in accordance with 4.2.1
and 4.2.2. The ship type and carriage requirements, based upon its
pollution hazard, should be derived in accordance with 4.2.5.
4.7 When sufficient data are not available, the
Administration should make an assessment by assimilation to chemically
similar substances from the following sources:
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.1 the IBC Code and Index;
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.2 the MEPC circular referred to in 2.6, listing the substances provisionally
assessed by IMO;
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.3 the MEPC circular referred to in 2.8, listing the substances provisionally
assessed by tripartite agreement; and
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.4 the BCH circular referred to in 4.3, listing
the substances for which a hazard profile exists.
When several alternative assimilations are possible, the most
severe should prevail.
4.8 After assessment of pollution hazards, the
possible safety hazards of the chemical should be assessed.
4.9 Guidelines for the assessment of the possible
safety hazards of chemicals are provided in "Part A - Safety hazards"
of the Criteria for Hazard Evaluation of Bulk Chemicals, attached
to the IBC Code.
4.10 If the chemical to be provisionally assessed
presents a safety hazard, the Administration should assign carriage
requirements in accordance with the above-mentioned Criteria. These
requirements have to be integrated with those previously assigned
for pollution prevention purposes only and the most stringent set
has to be adopted. If necessary, the Administration should revise
the ship type previously assigned for pollution considerations only.
4.11 At this point, the Administration of the
shipping or producing country, having provisionally assessed the chemical
in question, should seek the concurrence of the Administrations of
the flag States and receiving countries with its evaluation. For this
purpose, the standard telex/telefax format for proposing tripartite
agreements for the provisional assessment of liquid substances, reproduced
in annex 7, should be used.
4.12 After express or tacit agreement has been
reached, the proposing Administration should inform IMO, as required
by regulation 3(4) (now regulation
6.3) of Annex II. It is recommended to use the telex/telefax
format for this purpose, adding the list of the countries involved.
4.13 Either the proposing Administration or the
manufacturer should then promptly forward to GESAMP all data necessary
for a formal hazard evaluation, using the format "Characteristics
of liquid chemicals proposed for marine transport in bulk" (see annex 8).