New chemicals and other dangerous goods bring new challenges for their safe shipment by sea. The new amendment to SOLAS II-2/19 “Carriage of Dangerous Goods” focuses on the corresponding requirements for equipment on board and comes into force 1 January 2011. Therefore, Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has launched database service “GL Cargo”, allowing its users easy access to all equipment requirements on board.
Most goods consigned for transport pose no danger to those involved in transporting them, to members of the public, or to the environment. However, some goods are potentially hazardous – they might, for example, be poisonous to humans and/or the environment, explosive, flammable or radioactive.
Ticking Boxes
Friedo Holtermann, a Marine Engineer of GL, explains the benefits of the new databank: “With GL Cargo, a user can just tick off the types of cargo space and goods classes, and then leave the remaining work to our system which can automatically generate a report on all requirements about cargo holds and equipments, such as fire extinguishing system, water supplies, ventilation, detection system, etc. This way, a comprehensive report can be produced no matter how many types of dangerous goods the vessel will transport.”
Dangerous Goods Covered by GL Cargo
GL Cargo contains all provisions of SOLAS II-2/19 adopted by Resolution MSC 269(85), as well as the revised standard format for the Document of Compliance for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods according to MSC.1/Circ.1266. It covers all dangerous goods in packaged form carried by multi-purpose vessels, containerships and Ro-Ro vessels and all solid dangerous goods in bulk shipped by bulk carriers and multi-purpose vessels. GL Cargo is also used to generate and print out the Document of Compliance in the new standard format as long as all relevant information about space type and goods classes is uploaded to the database.
Authorized by Major Flag States
GL has been authorized by major Flag State Administrations to provide the new Document of Compliance after conducting surveys and reviewing documents and drawings of ships. Existing documents for ships in service will remain valid until they need to be re-issued on the occasion of change of flag or class renewal.
