OBJETIVOS Objetivo General

handling and stowage, necessary for compliance with the SOLAS Convention and any national requirements, are given in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

13.1 DANGEROUS GOODS

Dangerous goods are classified in Chapter VII of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974).

The master should only permit aboard the ship packaged dangerous goods which have been properly identified by the shipper of the goods and declared as being properly packaged, marked and labelled so that they comply with the appropriate provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, taking into consideration as appropriate the IMO Recommendations on the Safe Transport, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Substances in Port Areas.

Before accepting the cargo, the master should check that he has received adequate advice on any special properties of the cargo, on procedures for entering an enclosed compartment containing the cargo, and for dealing with any leak, spill, inhalation, skin contact or fire.

Attention is drawn to the advice for dealing with spillage or fire contained in the IMO guide

‘Emergency Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods — Group Emergency Schedules’.

The master should ensure that the dangerous goods loaded in the ship are properly stowed and segregated as recommended in the IMDG Code, taking into consideration as appropriate the IMO Recommendations on the Safe Transport, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Substances in Port Areas.

13.2 PETROLEUM AND OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

13.2.1 General

The following procedures should be observed in addition to the general safety precautions for handling bulk petroleum.

13.2.2 Loading and Discharging

Packaged petroleum and other flammable liquids should not be handled during the loading of volatile petroleum in bulk except by permission of the responsible officer and the terminal representative.

13.2.3 Precautions During Handling

The handling of packaged petroleum and other flammable liquids should be supervised by a responsible officer.

The following precautions should be taken:

• Stevedores must comply with smoking restrictions and other safety regulations.

• When permanent hatch protection is not fitted, temporary protection should be provided to avoid the risk of sparks being caused by hoists striking the hatch coamings, hatch sides or hold ladders.

• All hoists should be of a size suitable for passing through hatches with ample clearance.

• Fibre rope slings, cargo nets, or drum hooks on wire rope or chain slings should be used for handling loose drums.

• Goods should preferably be palleted and secured. Pallets should be lifted with pallet lifting gear with safety nets. If goods are not presented on pallets, cargo trays or fibre rope slings may be used. Cargo nets are liable to cause damage.

• Loose gas cylinders should be handled with cargo nets of a sufficiently small mesh.

• Each package should be inspected for leakage or damage before being stowed and any found defective to an extent likely to impair its safety should be rejected.

• Packages should be placed on dunnage on the deck or in the hold.

• Packages should not be dragged across the deck or hold and should not be allowed to slide or roll free.

• Cans and drums should be stowed with caps and end plugs uppermost.

• Where required to secure the cargo, each tier should be separated by dunnage. The height to which cargo can be safely stowed should be related to the nature, size and strength of the packages. Advice should be obtained from the terminal.

• Sufficient suitable dunnage should be used to prevent possible damage during the voyage.

• Cargo should be secured to prevent any movement during the voyage.

• During darkness, adequate approved lighting should be provided overside and in the hold.

• Empty receptacles, unless gas free, should be treated in all respects as filled receptacles.

• No materials liable to spontaneous combustion should be used as dunnage or stowed in the same compartment as the packages. Attention is drawn to the combustible nature of certain protective packings such as straw, wood shavings, bitumenized paper, felts and polyurethane.

• On completion of loading or discharge and prior to closing hatches, the hold should be inspected to check that everything is in order.

13.2.4 Entry Into Holds

Before entry into any hold which contains, or which has contained, packaged petroleum and/or other flammable liquids, all the precautions for entry into enclosed spaces should be taken (see Chapter 11). Holds should be ventilated during all cargo handling operations. If handling operations are interrupted and hatches closed, the atmosphere should again be tested before resuming work.

13.2.5 Portable Electrical Equipment

The use of portable electrical equipment (other than approved air driven lamps) should be prohibited in holds or spaces containing packaged petroleum or other flammable liquids, or on deck or in spaces over or adjacent to such holds or spaces, unless the ship complies with the conditions for the use of such equipment on tankers (see Section 2.4).

13.2.6 Smothering Type Fire Extinguishing Systems

When packaged petroleum or other flammable liquids are being handled, the control valves of any smothering system in the holds should be closed and precautions taken to prevent unauthorised or accidental opening of these valves. On completion of loading or discharge operations and when hatches have been secured, any fixed smothering system that has been closed should be returned to operational readiness.

13.2.7 Fire-Fighting Precautions

In addition to the precautions outlined in Section 4.4.1, at least two fire extinguishers of the dry chemical type and fire hoses equipped with spray nozzles should be ready for use while cargo handling is taking place.

13.2.8 Centrecastle and Forecastle Spaces

Packaged petroleum or other flammable liquids should not be carried in the centrecastle and forecastle spaces or any other space unless such spaces have been specifically designed and classified for this purpose.

13.2.9 Deck Cargo

When drums or other receptacles are carried on deck they should be given some protection against the sea and weather, and normally stowed only one tier high.

All packages should be stowed well clear of all deck fittings (including tank and valve controls, fire hydrants, steam pipes, deck lines, tank washing openings, doorways and ladders), adequately dunnaged and properly secured to the vessel’s structure.

13.2.10 Barges

Barge personnel should comply with the requirements of Chapter 4 as appropriate, particularly with regard to smoking, naked lights and cooking appliances, and, if alongside a tanker, with any instructions given in Section 6.11.3. Barges containing packaged petroleum or other flammable liquids should be allowed to remain alongside a tanker during the hours of darkness only if adequate safe illumination is provided and there are means of ensuring compliance with smoking restrictions and other safety requirements.

13.3 LIQUEFIED GASES

In addition to the general precautions for handling packaged petroleum and other flammable liquids given in Section 13.2, the following safeguards should be observed when handling packaged liquefied gas cargoes:

• Pressurised receptacles should be suitably protected against physical damage from other cargo, stores or equipment.

• Pressurised receptacles should not be overstowed with other heavy cargo.

• Pressurised receptacles should be stowed in such a position that the safety relief device is in communication with the vapour space within the receptacle.

• Valves should be suitably protected against any form of physical damage.

• Cylinders stowed underdeck should be in compartments or holds capable of being ventilated and away from all sources of heat, accommodation and working areas.

• Oxygen cylinders should be stowed separately from flammable gas cylinders.

Temperatures should be kept down and hold temperatures not permitted to rise above 50ºC.

Hold temperatures should be constantly checked, and if they approach this level the following measures should be taken:

• The cargo hold should be ventilated.

• The liquefied gas containers should be sprayed with water if loading or discharge operations are carried out in direct tropical sunlight.

• An awning should be rigged over the hold.

• The deck should be dampened down.

13.4 TETRAETHYL LEAD (TEL) AND TETRAMETHYL LEAD (TML)

Extreme care is necessary when handling anti-knock compounds because of the toxic hazards arising from skin contact or vapour inhalation. It is essential that before handling packaged cargoes of TEL and TML advice is given to the master about the nature and properties of the substances and that the recommendations contained in handbooks issued by the manufacturing companies are strictly followed.

Chapter 14