IMDG Code
The IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) is the IMO's international rulebook for the safe carriage of dangerous goods by sea. It sets out how hazardous cargoes must be classified, packaged, marked and labelled, documented, stowed and segregated aboard ship, so that incompatible or hazardous materials are handled safely and don't endanger the vessel, crew or environment.
Dangerous goods are grouped into nine hazard classes (explosives, gases, flammable liquids, corrosives, and so on), each with a UN number and proper shipping name. Compliance runs through the whole chain: the shipper must correctly declare and pack the goods (with a dangerous goods declaration), the forwarder and carrier must document and stow them per the Code, and terminals must handle them accordingly. Getting IMDG classification, declaration and segregation right is a legal requirement and a serious safety obligation in containerised and break-bulk shipping.
Mis-declared or badly stowed dangerous goods have caused some of shipping's worst fires and explosions — so the IMDG Code is safety law, not paperwork. Correct classification, declaration and segregation protect ships, ports and lives, and errors carry heavy legal liability, making DG compliance a critical discipline for shippers, forwarders and carriers alike.
What does the IMDG Code cover?
The classification, packing, marking, labelling, documentation, stowage and segregation of dangerous goods carried by sea.
How many hazard classes are there?
Nine — including explosives, gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, toxic and corrosive substances, and others — each with a UN number.