AMSA New exemptions relating to corrosive properties of solid bulk cargoes

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have been working with industry on issues identified with the repeatability and reliability of the modified C.1 test prescribed by section 9.2.3.7.3 of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code[1]).

AMSA have previously issued two exemptions, namely EX5450 (issued 19 December 2016) and EX5451 (issued 21 December 2016) in respect of assessing the corrosive properties of solid bulk cargoes. Both of these exemptions were valid until the 04-17 amendment to the IMSBC Code came into mandatory effect from 1 January 2019.

Issues relating to use of the C.1 test for assessing the corrosive properties of Solid Bulk Cargoes have been progressed at meetings of the sub-committee for the Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A refined Materials Hazardous only in Bulk (MHB) corrosivity (CR) test has been developed which prescribes testing of representative samples of the cargo at conditions representing their as-shipped properties. Amendments to be included in the 06-21 amendments to the IMSBC Code were finalised and agreed during CCC 5 in September 2018. These were sent to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in December 2018 for that committee to issue an MSC circular. Until that circular can be formally published, allowing AMSA to permit use of it, and to allow shippers a period to transition to the contents of the circular once it is formally published, AMSA has issued two exemptions valid until the end of June 2019, to replace those previously issued as detailed below:

• Exemption 5717 to section 334 of the Navigation Act 2012 was issued on 20 December 2018 and replaces EX5451 which is now revoked. As with EX5451 this exemption allows shippers of mineral concentrates and metal sulphide concentrates to use a modified C.1 test better suited to the properties of these materials. This exemption remains valid until 30 June 2019 unless altered or revoked by AMSA before this date.

• Exemption 5718 to section 334 of the Navigation Act 2012 was issued on 20 December 2018 and replaces EX5450 which is now revoked. As with EX5450 this exemption allows shippers of iron ore, iron ore fines, coal and bauxite to use an alternative method (i.e. DIN 50929-3) for evaluation of the localised corrosive properties of these cargoes for MHB (CR) classification. This exemption remains valid until 30 June 2019 unless altered or revoked by AMSA before this date.

Want more information?

For further information on these exemptions, or conducting the refined MHB (CR) corrosivity test, or for any other maritime transport compliance query please contact Davoren Environmental maria@davorenenvironmental.com.au

[1] International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code. Incorporating Amendment 04-17 and Supplement, 2018 Edition.