Parts
A and
B of chapter VI and
part
A-1 of chapter VII of the SOLAS Convention, as amended, deal with the carriage of
solid bulk cargoes and the carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk, respectively,
and only the relevant parts are reproduced below. This extract incorporates amendments that
entered into force on 1 January 2011.
"Chapter VI
Carriage of cargoes and
oil fuels
Part A
General provisions
Regulation
1
Application
1 Unless expressly provided otherwise, this
chapter applies to the carriage of cargoes (except liquids in bulk, gases in bulk and
those aspects of carriage covered by other chapters) which, owing to their particular
hazards to ships or persons on board, may require special precautions in all ships to
which the present regulations apply and in cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage.
However, for cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage, the Administration, if it
considers that the sheltered nature and conditions of voyage are such as to render the
application of any specific requirements of part A or B of this chapter unreasonable or
unnecessary, may take other effective measures to ensure the required safety for these
ships.
2 To supplement the provisions of parts A and B of this chapter, each
Contracting Government shall ensure that appropriate information on cargo and its
stowage and securing is provided, specifying, in particular, precautions necessary for
the safe carriage of such cargoes.footnote
Regulation 1-1
Definitions
For the
purpose of this chapter, unless expressly provided otherwise, the following definitions
shall apply:
1 IMSBC Code means the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code adopted by the
Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution
MSC.268(85), as may be amended by the Organization, provided that such
amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the
provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures
applicable to the annex other than chapter I.
2 Solid bulk cargo means any
cargo, other than liquid or gas, consisting of a combination of particles, granules or
any larger pieces of material generally uniform in composition, which is loaded directly
into the cargo spaces of a ship without any intermediate form of containment.
Regulation 1-2
Requirements for the carriage of solid bulk
cargoes other than grain
The carriage of solid bulk cargoes other than
grain shall be in compliance with the relevant provisions of the IMSBC Code.
Regulation 2
Cargo information
1 The shipper shall provide the master or his representative with appropriate
information on the cargo sufficiently in advance of loading to enable the precautions
which may be necessary for proper stowage and safe carriage of the cargo to be put into
effect. Such informationfootnote shall be confirmed in writingfootnote and by appropriate shipping documents prior to loading the cargo on the
ship.
2 The cargo information shall include:
-
.1 in the case of general cargo, and of cargo carried in cargo units, a general
description of the cargo, the gross mass of the cargo or of the cargo units, and
any relevant special properties of the cargo. For the purpose of this regulation
the cargo information required in sub-chapter
1.9 of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, adopted
by the Organization by resolution A.714(17), as may be amended, shall be provided. Any such
amendment to sub-chapter 1.9 shall be adopted, brought into force and take effect in
accordance with the provisions of article
VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures
applicable to the annex other than chapter I;
-
.2 in the case of solid bulk cargo, information as required by section
4 of the IMSBC Code.
3 Prior to loading cargo units on board ships, the shipper shall ensure that the
gross mass of such units is in accordance with the gross mass declared on the shipping
documents.
Regulation 3
Oxygen analysis and gas detection
equipment
1 When transporting a solid bulk cargo which is liable to emit a
toxic or flammable gas, or cause oxygen depletion in the cargo space, an appropriate
instrument for measuring the concentration of gas or oxygen in the air shall be provided
together with detailed instructions for its use. Such an instrument shall be to the
satisfaction of the Administration.
2 The Administration shall take steps to
ensure that crews of ships are trained in the use of such instruments.
Regulation 4
The use of pesticides in shipsfootnote
Appropriate precautions shall be taken in the use of
pesticides in ships, in particular for the purposes of fumigation.
Regulation
5
Stowage and securing
1 Cargo, cargo unitsfootnote and cargo transport unitsfootnote carried on or under deck shall be so loaded, stowed and secured as to
prevent as far as is practicable, throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship
and the persons on board, and loss of cargo overboard.
2 Cargo, cargo units and
cargo transport units shall be so packed and secured within the unit as to prevent,
throughout the voyage, damage or hazard to the ship and the persons on board.
3
Appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of heavy cargoes or
cargoes with abnormal physical dimensions to ensure that no structural damage to the
ship occurs and to maintain adequate stability throughout the voyage.
4
Appropriate precautions shall be taken during loading and transport of cargo units and
cargo transport units on board ro-ro ships, especially with regard to the securing
arrangements on board such ships and on the cargo units and cargo transport units and
with regard to the strength of the securing points and lashings.
5 Freight
containers shall not be loaded to more than the maximum gross weight indicated on the
Safety Approval Plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), as
amended.
6 All cargoes, other than solid and liquid bulk cargoes, cargo units and
cargo transport units, shall be loaded, stowed and secured throughout the voyage in
accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual approved by the Administration. In ships with
ro-ro spaces, as defined in regulation II-2/3.41, all securing of such cargoes, cargo units,
and cargo transport units, in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual, shall be
completed before the ship leaves the berth. The Cargo Securing Manual shall be drawn up
to a standard at least equivalent to relevant guidelines developed by the
Organization.footnote
Part B
Special provisions for solid bulk cargoes
Regulation 6
Acceptability for shipment
1
Prior to loading a solid bulk cargo, the master shall be in possession of comprehensive
information on the ship's stability and on the distribution of cargo for the standard
loading conditions. The method of providing such information shall be to the
satisfaction of the Administration. footnote
Regulation 7
Loading, unloading and stowage of solid bulk
cargoesfootnote
1 For the purpose of this regulation, terminal representative
means a person appointed by the terminal or other facility, where the ship is
loading or unloading, who has responsibility for operations conducted by that terminal
or facility with regard to the particular ship.
2 To enable the master to prevent
excessive stresses in the ship's structure, the ship shall be provided with a booklet,
which shall be written in a language with which the ship's officers responsible for
cargo operations are familiar. If this language is not English, the ship shall be
provided with a booklet written also in the English language. The booklet shall, as a
minimum, include:
-
.1 stability data, as required by regulation II-1/5-1;
-
.2 ballasting and deballasting rates and
capacities;
-
.3 maximum allowable load per unit surface area of
the tank top plating;
-
.4 maximum allowable load per hold;
-
.5 general loading and unloading instructions with
regard to the strength of the ship's structure including any limitations on the
most adverse operating conditions during loading, unloading, ballasting operations
and the voyage;
-
.6 any special restrictions such as limitations on
the most adverse operating conditions imposed by the Administration or
organization recognized by it, if applicable; and
-
.7 where strength calculations are required, maximum
permissible forces and moments on the ship's hull during loading, unloading and
the voyage.
3 Before a solid bulk cargo is loaded or unloaded, the master and the terminal
representative shall agree on a planfootnote which shall ensure that the permissible forces and moments on the ship
are not exceeded during loading or unloading, and shall include the sequence, quantity
and rate of loading or unloading, taking into consideration the speed of loading or
unloading, the number of pours and the deballasting or ballasting capability of the
ship. The plan and any subsequent amendments thereto shall be lodged with the
appropriate authority of the port State.
4 The master and terminal representative
shall ensure that loading and unloading operations are conducted in accordance with the
agreed plan.
5 If during loading or unloading any of the limits of the ship
referred to in paragraph 2 are exceeded or are likely to become so if the loading or
unloading continues, the master has the right to suspend operation and the obligation to
notify accordingly the appropriate authority of the port State with which the plan has
been lodged. The master and the terminal representative shall ensure that corrective
action is taken. When unloading cargo, the master and terminal representative shall
ensure that the unloading method does not damage the ship's structure.
6 The
master shall ensure that ship's personnel continuously monitor cargo operations. Where
possible, the ship's draught shall be checked regularly during loading or unloading to
confirm the tonnage figures supplied. Each draught and tonnage observation shall be
recorded in a cargo logbook. If significant deviations from the agreed plan are
detected, cargo or ballast operations or both shall be adjusted to ensure that the
deviations are corrected.
Chapter VII
Carriage of dangerous
goods footnote
Part A-1
Carriage of dangerous goods in solid
form in bulk
Regulation 7
Definitions
Dangerous goods in solid form in bulk means any material, other
than liquid or gas, consisting of a combination of particles, granules or any larger
pieces of material, generally uniform in composition, which is covered by the IMDG Code
and is loaded directly into the cargo spaces of a ship without any intermediate form of
containment, and includes such materials loaded in a barge on a barge-carrying
ship.
Regulation 7-1
Applicationfootnote
1 Unless expressly provided otherwise, this part applies to the
carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk in all ships to which the present
regulations apply and in cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage.
2 The
carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk is prohibited except in accordance
with the provisions of this part.
3 To supplement the provisions of this part,
each Contracting Government shall issue, or cause to be issued, instructions on
emergency response and medical first aid relevant to incidents involving dangerous goods
in solid form in bulk, taking into account the guidelines developed by the
Organization.footnote
Regulation 7-2
Documents
1 In all
documents relating to the carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk by sea, the
bulk cargo shipping name of the goods shall be used (trade names alone shall not be
used).
2 Each ship carrying dangerous goods in solid form in bulk shall have a
special list or manifest setting forth the dangerous goods on board and the location
thereof. A detailed stowage plan, which identifies by class and sets out the location of
all dangerous goods on board, may be used in place of such a special list or manifest. A
copy of one of these documents shall be made available before departure to the person or
organization designated by the port State authority.
Regulation 7-3
Stowage and segregation requirements
1 Dangerous goods in
solid form in bulk shall be loaded and stowed safely and appropriately in accordance
with the nature of the goods. Incompatible goods shall be segregated from one another.
2 Dangerous goods in solid form in bulk, which are liable to spontaneous heating
or combustion, shall not be carried unless adequate precautions have been taken to
minimize the likelihood of the outbreak of fire.
3 Dangerous goods in solid form
in bulk, which give off dangerous vapours, shall be stowed in a well ventilated cargo
space.
Regulation 7-4
Reporting of incidents involving dangerous
goods
1 When an incident takes place involving the loss or likely loss
overboard of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk into the sea, the master, or other
person having charge of the ship, shall report the particulars of such an incident
without delay and to the fullest extent possible to the nearest coastal State. The
report shall be drawn up based on general principles and guidelines developed by the
Organization.footnote
2 In the event of the ship referred to in paragraph 1 being
abandoned, or in the event of a report from such a ship being incomplete or
unobtainable, the company, as defined in regulation
IX/1.2, shall, to the fullest extent possible, assume the obligations placed
upon the master by this regulation.
Regulation 7-5
Requirements
for the carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk
The carriage of
dangerous goods in solid form in bulk shall be in compliance with the relevant
provisions of the IMSBC Code, as defined in regulation
VI/1-1.1."