Capt.S.S.Chaudhari

Q. List precautionary measures in respect of safe use of pesticides on board cargo ships.
Ans.

• The safety procedures in respect of use of pesticides, should be in accordance with the IMO publication `Recommendations on the Safe Use of Pesticides’ (1996). A copy of this publication should be accessible for all crew members.
• Appropriate protective clothing, gloves, respirators and eye protection must be used during spray, etc.
• Handling of fumigants should be carried out only by qualified operators only.
• Ship’s own national Administration and the Administration of the State of the vessel’s next destination must approve the use of in-transit procedures.

• The Master should provide safe working conditions. At least two members of the crew including one officer should have received the appropriate training. They should be familiar with symptoms of poisoning and relevant first-aid.
• The `Fumigation Warning’ sign should be well displayed on cargo units or spaces under fumigation.
• Precautions to prevent edible cargoes getting contaminated by the use of pesticides must be ensured.
• The Master should enquire whether the intended cargo is under fumigation or has been fumigated and should arrange for suitable approved protective masks.
• Infestation by insects is almost always there if an agro product was carried in past. It is also caused by the incoming cargo. Cleanliness and disinfestations should be to satisfy the agricultural authorities in the discharge port. Infestation sometimes, can cause cargo to overheat.
• Any infested material collected during cleaning should be disposed of or treated immediately so that infestation cannot spread.
• Whether approval of proposed in-transit fumigation has been received from the Flag State and Port State Administrations or not, prior to the arrival of the vessel and in general not less than 24 hours in advance, the Master must inform the port authorities of the next ports of call that a fumigation in transit is being carried out.

Q. Is there any IMO circular in respect of safe use of pesticides on board?
Ans. Yes, MEPC.1/Circ.1358 superseding the previous circulars in this respect, approved the revised Recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships in pursuance of the requirement of SOLAS regulation VI/4, proposed by the Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers.

Q. What does this circular provide?
Ans. Annex to this circular provides, revised recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships. The various sections in annex are regarding:

1. Prevention of infestation, dealing with: maintenance and sanitation; and chemical control of insect infestation.
2. Contact insecticides, dealing with: fumigants; fumigation with aeration (ventilation) in port; disinfestation of empty cargo spaces; and disinfestation of food stores, galleys, and crew and passenger accommodation.
3. Control of rodent pests.
4. Regulations for the use of pesticides.
5. Section 6 deals with safety precautions. In this, it deals with: pesticide materials; space and surface spraying; fumigation; and exposure to pesticides resulting in illness. Annex to section 6 provides ‘pesticides suitable for shipboard use’.

Q. Why strict precautions must be taken in respect of pesticide materials? How should they be stored?
Ans. Pesticides are often at least as poisonous to humans as to the pests against which they are used. The instructions given on the label or package itself, particularly those relating to safety and disposal of residual material, should be strictly followed. Pesticides should be stored in strict compliance with national regulations and requirements or the manufacturers’ instructions.

Q. What precautions regarding own safety must be taken when handling pesticides?
Ans. Smoking, eating or drinking while using pesticides should always be avoided.
Empty pesticide receptacles and packaging should never be re-used.
Hands should always be washed after applying pesticides.
If operations are carried out by the crew, the Master should ensure that the following safeguards are observed, both in the preparation and the application of the pesticides:

1. protective clothing, gloves, respirators and eye protection appropriate to the pesticides being used must be duly worn;
2. the clothes, gloves, respirators or eye protection whilst applying pesticides, are not removed even under hot conditions; and
3. excessive application and run-off on surfaces;  and contamination of foodstuff are avoided.

Q. What is the guidance in respect of handling the clothings, etc.?
Ans. After the work:
.1   clothing, footwear and other equipment are removed and washed; and
.2   a shower is taken using plenty of soap.

If clothing becomes contaminated:
.1   the work is stopped immediately and area is left;
.2   the clothing and footwear are removed;
.3   a shower and thorough wash of skin is taken;
.4   clothing, footwear and skin is washed again; and
.5   medical advice is sought.

Q. Can the ship’s crew fumigate?
Ans. Ships’ personnel should not handle fumigants and such operations should be carried out only by qualified operators. Personnel allowed to remain in the vicinity of a fumigation operation for a particular purpose should follow the instructions of the fumigator-in-charge implicitly.

Q. What precautions must be taken prior reentry?
Ans. Aeration of treated spaces on board a ship should be completed and a gas-free certificate should be issued before personnel are permitted to enter.

Q. What if due exposure to pesticides results in illness?
Ans. In the case of exposure to pesticides and subsequent illness, medical advice should be sought immediately. Information on poisoning by specific compounds may be found in the IMO Medical First Aid Guide for use in accidents involving dangerous goods (MFAG), or on the package where manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions on the label or the package itself are provided.

Q. What are the different insecticides recommended for ships use?
Ans. Annex to section 6 of the IMO circular, ‘pesticides suitable for shipboard use’ lists following contact pesticides usable in a cargo space:

1 Fast-acting insecticides for space application, e.g., against flying insects:

• Pyrethrins (with or without synergist);
• Bioresmethrin; and
• Dichlorvos.

2 Slower-acting residual insecticides for surface application:

• Malathion (premium grade);
• Bromophos;
• Carbaryl;
• Fenitrothion;
• Chlorpyriphos-methyl; and
• Pirimiphos-methyl.

Q. What are the different contact insecticides and baits recommended for the use in accomodation?
Ans. Following are the recommended contact insecticides and baits usable in accommodation.

1 Fast-acting insecticides for space application, e.g., against flying insects:

• Pyrethrins (with or without synergist);
• Bioresmethrin; and
• Dichlorvos.

2 Slower-acting residual insecticides:

• Malathion (premium grade);
• Diazinon;
• Fenitrothion;
• Propoxur;
• Bendiocarb; and
• Permethrin.

3 Insecticides for use against particular pests and as an additional treatment:

• Diazinon, as an aerosol spray or lacquer against ants, cockroaches and flies;
• Dieldrin and Aldrin, in lacquers for control of ants and cockroaches;
• Methoprene bait, for control of Pharaoh’s ants; and
• Chlorpyriphos-ethyl, as a bait and as a lacquer.

Q. What are the rodenticides usable on ships?
Ans. Following chronic poisons are usable in baits:

• Calciferol; and
• Any Anticoagulant in the following two classes:
• Hydroxycoumarins (e.g., Warfarin, Fumarin, Coumatetralyl, Difenacoum,   Brodifacoum); and

.2.   Indandiones (e.g., Pival, Diphacinone, Chlorophacinone).

Following acute poisons in baits or liquids must be used only in port and by qualified operators:

• Barium fluoroacetate;
• Fluoroacetamide;
• Sodium fluoroacetate; and
• Zinc phosphide.

Q. What precautions are taken in respect of Methyl bromide as insecticide?
Ans. Methyl bromide is used in situations where a rapid treatment of spaces or commodities is required. Fumigation with methyl bromide should be permitted only when the ship is in the confines of a port (either at anchor or alongside) and to disinfest the spaces after the crew members have disembarked. Prior to re-embarkation of the crew, ventilation of the treated spaces should be completed and a gas-free certificate should be issued before personnel are permitted to enter.

Q. What precautions are taken in respect of Phosphine (Hydrogen phosphide) as insecticide?
Ans. A variety of phosphine-generating formulations are used for at-berth fumigations and also for in-ship in-transit fumigations. Application methods vary widely and include surface only treatment, probing, perforated tubing laid at the bottom of spaces, recirculation systems and gas-injection systems or their combinations. Ventilation of the treated spaces should be completed and a gas-free certificate should be issued before personnel are permitted to enter.

Q. What fumigants may be used against insects in empty cargo spaces and against rodents anywhere aboard ship?
Ans. Following fumigants can be used against insects in empty cargo spaces and against rodents anywhere aboard ship:

• Carbon dioxide;
• Nitrogen;
• Methyl bromide and carbon dioxide mixture;
• Methyl bromide;
• Hydrogen cyanide; and
• Phosphine (Hydrogen phosphide).

Q. What fumigants may be used against insects in loaded or partially loaded cargo spaces and cargo transport units?
Ans. Following fumigants are usable against insects in loaded or partially loaded cargo spaces and cargo transport units:

• Carbon dioxide;
• Nitrogen;
• Methyl bromide and carbon dioxide mixture;
• Methyl bromide; and
• Phosphine (Hydrogen phosphide).

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