Charcoal shipment in containers – amendments finally agreed for charco...

Charcoal shipment in containers – amendments finally agreed for charcoal regulations at IMO

Published: 16 October 2023

The whole supply chain for charcoal cargoes leading up to sea transportation is about to change with the onset of amendments agreed at the IMO. This will bring about major changes to how charcoal must be safely packed for sea transport, as well as ensuring safer transportation through improved packaging and stowage provisions and requiring mandatory dangerous goods transport documentation.

Due to the many container fire incidents with the shipment of charcoal that have been brought to the attention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), new regulations affecting the shipment of charcoal under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) have now been agreed.

The new regulations follow more than four years of intense discussion and debate at the IMO meetings held recently from 20 September to 6 October 2023. BIMCO has participated actively in the IMO discussions and debate and we are extremely pleased with the outcome.

One of the major changes is that charcoal shipments in containers will no longer be given exemptions to be shipped as non-dangerous goods under the IMDG Code.

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