Recent Exemption and Approval Updates for the handling, transport and categorisation of certain cargoes from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)

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

Want more information?
​
For further information on these exemptions or approvals, or any other maritime transport compliance query please contact Davoren Environmental
[email protected]



 


[1] International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code. Incorporating Amendment 05-19 and Supplement, 2020 Edition.