Capt.S.S.Chaudhari

Q. What are High consequence dangerous goods?
Ans. High consequence dangerous goods are those which have the potential for misuse in a terrorist event and which may, as a result, produce serious consequences such as mass casualties, mass destruction or, particularly for class 7, mass socio-economic disruption.

Q. What is mass explosion?
Ans. Mass explosion means one which affects almost the entire load virtually instantaneously.

Q. What are six hazard divisions?
Ans. The six hazard divisions of class 1 are:
Division 1.1 Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard

• Division 1.2 Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
• Division 1.3 Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard. This division comprises substances and articles:
  .1 which give rise to considerable radiant heat; or
  .2 which burn one after another, producing minor blast or projection effects or both.
• Division 1.4 Substances and articles which present no significant hazard
• Division 1.5 Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.6 Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Q. What are Compatibility groups and classification codes of Class I?
Ans. Goods of class 1 are considered to be “compatible” if they can be safely stowed or transported together without significantly increasing either the probability of an accident or, for a given quantity, the magnitude of the effects of such an accident. By this criterion, goods listed in this class have been divided into a number of compatibility groups, each denoted by a letter from A to L (excluding I), N and S. An excerpt from the table is as follows:

Q. What additional information must be included for a consignment including explosives?
Ans. The following information shall be included for each consignment of class 1 goods, as applicable:

1. Entries have been included for “SUBSTANCES, EXPLOSIVE, N.O.S.”, “ARTICLES, EXPLOSIVE, N.O.S.”, and “COMPONENTS, EXPLOSIVE TRAIN, N.O.S.”. When a specific entry does not exist, the competent authority of the country of origin shall use the entry appropriate to the hazard division and compatibility group. The transport document shall contain the statement: “Transport under this entry approved by the competent authority of …” followed by the State’s distinguishing sign for motor vehicles in international traffic of the country of the competent authority.
2. The transport of explosive substances for which a minimum water or phlegmatizer content is specified in the individual entry is prohibited when containing less water or phlegmatizer than the specified minimum. Such substances shall only be transported with special authorization granted by the competent authority of the country of origin. The transport document shall contain the statement “Transport under this entry approved by the competent authority of …” followed by the State’s distinguishing sign for motor vehicles in international traffic of the country of the competent authority.
3. When explosive substances or articles are packaged “as approved by the competent authority”, the transport document shall contain the statement “Packaging approved by the competent authority of …” followed by the State’s distinguishing sign for motor vehicles in international traffic of the country of the competent authority.
4. There are some hazards which are not indicated by the hazard division and compatibility group of a substance. The shipper shall provide an indication of any such hazards on the dangerous goods documentation.

Q. What are special fire precautions for class 1?
Ans. The greatest risk in the handling and transport of goods of class 1 is that of fire from a source external to the goods, and it is vital that any fire should be detected and extinguished before it can reach such goods. A high standard and ready for immediate application of equipment is very important.

Compartments containing goods of class 1 and adjacent cargo spaces should be provided with a fire-detection system. If such spaces are not protected by a fixed fire-extinguishing system, they should be accessible for fire-fighting operations. No repair work should be carried out in a compartment containing goods of class 1. Special care should be exercised in carrying out repairs in any adjacent space. No welding, burning, cutting, or riveting operations involving the use of fire, flame, spark, or arc-producing equipment should be carried out in any space other than machinery spaces and workshops where fire-extinguishing arrangements are available, except in any emergency and, if in port, with prior authorization of the port authority.

Q. What are Special packing provisions for goods of class 1?
Ans.  

• All packagings for class 1 goods shall be so designed and constructed that:
• they will protect the explosives, prevent them escaping and cause no increase in the risk of unintended ignition or initiation when subjected to normal conditions of transport, including foreseeable changes in temperature, humidity and pressure;
• the complete package can be handled safely in normal conditions of transport; and
• the packages will withstand any loading imposed on them by foreseeable stacking to which they will be subject during transport so that they do not add to the risk presented by the explosives, the containment function of the packagings is not harmed, and they are not distorted in a way or to an extent which will reduce their strength or cause instability of a stack.
• All explosive substances and articles, as prepared for transport, shall have been classified in accordance with the prescribed procedures given in ‘method of classification, tables’, etc.
• Class 1 goods shall be packed in accordance with the appropriate packing instruction shown in columns 8 and 9 of the Dangerous Goods List, as detailed in relevant sections.
• Unless otherwise specified in this Code, packagings, including IBCs and large packagings, shall conform to the relevant requirements, as appropriate, and shall meet their test provisions for packing group II.
• The closure device of packagings containing liquid explosives shall ensure a double protection against leakage.
• The closure device of metal drums shall include a suitable gasket; if a closure device includes a screw-thread, the ingress of explosive substances into the screw-thread shall be prevented.
• Packagings for water-soluble substances shall be water-resistant. Packagings for desensitized or phlegmatized substances shall be closed to prevent changes in concentration during transport.
• When the packaging includes a double envelope filled with water which may freeze during transport, a sufficient quantity of an anti-freeze agent shall be added to the water to prevent freezing. Anti-freeze that could create a fire hazard because of its inherent flammability shall not be used.
• Nails, staples and other closure devices made of metal without protective covering shall not penetrate to the inside of the outer packaging unless the inner packaging adequately protects the explosives against contact with the metal.
• Inner packagings, fittings and cushioning materials and the placing of explosive substances or articles in packages shall be accomplished in a manner which prevents the explosive substances or articles from becoming loose in the outer packaging under normal conditions of transport.
• Metallic components of articles shall be prevented from making contact with metal packagings.
• Articles containing explosive substances not enclosed in an outer casing shall be separated from each other in order to prevent friction and impact.
• Padding, trays, partitioning in the inner or outer packaging, mouldings or receptacles may be used for this purpose.
• Packagings shall be made of materials compatible with, and impermeable to, the explosives contained in the package, so that neither interaction between the explosives and the packaging materials nor leakage causes the explosive to become unsafe to transport, or the hazard division or compatibility group to change.
• The ingress of explosive substances into the recesses of seamed metal packagings shall be prevented.
• Plastics packagings shall not be liable to generate or accumulate sufficient static electricity so that a discharge could cause the packaged explosive substances or articles to initiate, ignite or function.
• Large and robust explosives articles, normally intended for military use, without their means of initiation or with their means of initiation containing at least two effective protective features may be transported unpackaged. When such articles have propelling charges or are self-propelled, their ignition systems shall be protected against stimuli encountered during normal conditions of transport. A negative result in Test Series 4 on an unpackaged article indicates that the article can be considered for transport unpackaged. Such unpackaged articles may be fixed to cradles or contained in crates or other suitable handling, storage or launching devices in such a way that they will not become loose during normal conditions of transport. Where such large explosive articles are, as part of their operational safety and suitability tests, subjected to test regimes that meet the provisions of this Code and such tests have been successfully undertaken, the competent authority may approve such articles to be transported under this Code.
• Explosive substances shall not be packed in inner or outer packagings where the differences in internal and external pressures, due to thermal or other effects, could cause an explosion or rupture of the package. Whenever loose explosive substances or the explosive substance of an uncased or partly cased article may come into contact with the inner surface of metal packagings, the metal packaging shall be provided with an inner liner or coating.
• Packing instruction P101 may be used for any explosive which means, the package has been approved by a competent authority regardless of whether the packaging complies with the packing instruction assignment in the Dangerous Goods List.
• Government-owned military dangerous goods, packaged prior to 1 January 1990 in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code in effect at that time, may be transported provided the packagings maintain their integrity and the goods are declared as government-owned goods packaged prior to 1 January 1990.

Q. What are the recommended guidelines in respect of explosive magazines?
Ans.

1. The interior of magazine must be kept clean and tidy. Open or loose explosives or items must not be kept in the magazine. An accurate and up-to-date inventory of the contents of the magazine must be maintained.
2. Compatibility of stowage is of paramount importance within a magazine.  Initiating systems must never be stored with other explosives. All cases (inner and outer) must be marked with your license number.
3. Overstowing above stacking line should be avoided. A bullet-resistant buffer must be kept above stack line, if overstowing must be done.
4. Only approved portable electrical devices must be used inside the magazine. Wireless communication devices must be prohibited inside the magazine. Adequate ventilation is maintained, entry of moisture must be prevented.
5. The warning signs must be posted outside the magazine.
6. Before leaving, the magazine must be securely locked. only authorized persons must have access to the keys.
7. The relevant Regulations, in respect of Transportation of Dangerous Goods are complied with.

Q. What are the stowage catagories of class 1, explosives?
Ans.

Dangerous goods of class 1 other than division 1.4, compatibility group S, packed in limited quantities shall be stowed as indication in column 16a of the Dangerous Goods List in accordance with one of the categories specified below:

Stowage          Cargo ships                 On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck
Category 01    (up to 12 passengers)
                        Passengers ships        On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck

Stowage          Cargo ships                 On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck
Category 02    (up to 12 passengers)
                        Passengers ships        On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck
in closed cargo transport unit in accordance with
7.1.4.4.5

Stowage          Cargo ships                 On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck
Category 03    (up to 12 passengers)
                        Passengers ships        Prohibited except if in accordance with 7.1.4.4.5

Stowage          Cargo ships               On deck in closed cargo transport unit or under deck in
Category 04    (up to 12 passengers) closed cargo transport unit
                        Passengers ships        Prohibited except if in accordance with 7.1.4.4.5

Stowage          Cargo ships                 On deck only in closed cargo transport unit
Category 05    (up to 12 passengers)                        
Passengers ships        Prohibited except if in accordance with 7.1.4.4.5

Q. What are general provision regarding stowage of explosives on ships?
Ans. The general provisions in this respect as provided in part 7 are as follows:

• In cargo ships of 500 gross tons or over and passenger ships constructed before 1 September 1984 and in cargo ships of less than 500 tons constructed before 1 February 1992, goods of class 1 with the exception of division 1.4, compatibility group S, shall be stowed on deck only, unless otherwise approved by the Administration
• Goods of class 1 with the exception of division 1.4 shall be stowed not less than a horizontal distance of 12m from living quarters, life-saving appliances and areas with public access.
• Goods of class 1 with the exception of division 1.4 shall not be positioned closer to the ship’s side than a distance equal to one eighth of the beam or 2.4m, whichever is the lesser.
• Goods of class 1 shall not be stowed within a horizontal distance of 6m from potential sources of ignition.

Q. What are the provisions in respect of loading explosives on passenger ships?
Ans. Following provisions are provided in part 7 in this respect:

• Goods in division 1.4, compatibility group S, may be transported in any amount on passenger ships. No other goods of class 1 may be transported on passenger ships except:
  1    goods in compatibility groups C, D and E and articles in compatibility group G,
  if the total net explosive mass does not exceed 10kg per ship and if they are
  transported in closed cargo transport units on deck or under deck;
  2    articles in compatibility group B, if the total net explosive mass does not
  exceed 10kg per ship and if they are transported on deck only in closed cargo
  transport units.
• Alternative arrangements to those prescribed in chapter 7.1 for class 1 may be approved by the Administration.

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