AMSA Exemption Relating to Corrosive Properties of Solid Bulk Cargoes (Updated December 2022)

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has 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 IMSBC Code[1]. A refined Materials Hazardous only in Bulk (MHB) corrosivity (CR) test has been developed, which specifies testing of representative cargo samples at conditions representing their as-shipped properties. Amendments to be included in the 06-21 amendments to the IMSBC Code were finalised and agreed upon 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, AMSA has previously issued five exemptions relating to the corrosivity of solid bulk cargoes, the most recent being EX 5739 (issued 4 February 2019 and valid until 31 December 2022).
Due to the global pandemic, the finalisation of the 06-21 amendments to the IMSBC Code was delayed. The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 105th session, adopted the 06-21 amendments that will come into mandatory effect on 1 December 2023 and also approved a revised circular MSC.1/Circ.1600/Rev.1 Guidance for Conducting the Refined MHB (CR) Test that reflects those amendments. AMSA has therefore issued an Exemption 6343, valid until 30 November 2023, to allow shippers to use the revised circular until the 06-21 amendments to the IMSBC Code come into mandatory effect.
A shipper can use EX 6343 for any solid bulk cargo; hence it replaces all previously issued exemptions relating to the corrosivity of solid bulk cargoes (i.e. EX 5450, EX 5451, EX 5717, EX 5718 and EX 5739), regardless of the date of validity indicated on those certificates.

AMSA Approval for MHB categorisation related to self-heating properties of coal (Updated December 2022)

AMSA has been working with industry concerning issues identified with the repeatability and reliability of the N.4 test prescribed by section 9.2.3.3 of the IMSBC code to determine the self-heating properties of coal. While the research continues, they have issued Approval 8024, valid from 14 December 2022, which replaces the previously issued certificate of approval AP5620. This exemption permits the approval of coal, meeting certain criteria, to be MHB on the condition that extra precautions are taken. A copy of approval 8024 should be made available to Masters of vessels before loading if it is relied upon.

Exemptions and approvals for the handling, transport, and categorising certain cargoes can be found here

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For further information on these exemptions or approvals, or any other maritime transport compliance query please contact Davoren Environmental
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[1] International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code. Incorporating Amendment 05-19 and Supplement, 2020 Edition.

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. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) formally published this interim guidance in January 2019 MSC.1/Circ.1600 Interim Guidance for Conducting the Refined MHB (CR) Corrosivity Test. AMSA have recently issued exemption EX5739 which allows shippers to use this guidance in the circular until 31 December 2022 when it is agreed and finalised in the 06-21 amendments to the IMSBC Code, considering the mandatory entry into force would be 1 January 2023.
 
AMSA have previously issued two exemptions also relating to corrosivity:

• Exemption 5717 to section 334 of the Navigation Act 2012 and
• Exemption 5718 to section 334 of the Navigation Act 2012 

Both of which will expire on 30 June 2019.

Want more information?
For further information on this exemption, or conducting the refined MHB (CR) corrosivity test, or for any other maritime transport compliance query please contact Davoren Environmental
[email protected]

​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.

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
[email protected]

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