Superseded by MSC.268(85)

Resolution MSC.193(79)

CODE OF SAFE PRACTICE FOR SOLID BULK CARGOES, 2004

(adopted on 3 December 2004)

 

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING ARTICLE 28(b) of the Convention on the International Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

 

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.434(XI) by which the Assembly adopted the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (BC Code),

 

NOTING that the Assembly, by the aforementioned resolution, authorized the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to adopt, where necessary, amendments to the Code which did not affect the principles on which the Code is based,

 

RECOGNIZING the desirability of reformatting and further revising the provisions of the Code in order to make it more user friendly and for easy retrieval of the different entries in case of amendments or additions,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED the revised BC Code prepared by the Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers, at its ninth session, to achieve this aim,

 

1. ADOPTS the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes, 2004, the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. RECOMMENDS to Governments to apply the 2004 BC Code and to use it as a basis for national regulations in pursuance of their obligations under chapters VI and VII of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended;

 

3. REQUESTS the Assembly to endorse the action taken by the Maritime Safety Committee.

 

Annex.

REVISED BC CODE CONTENTS

 

FOREWORD

 

For more than 100 years cargoes have been shipped in bulk. However, in recent years there has been an increased variation in bulk cargoes carried by sea, which now constitute a significant proportion of international seaborne trade.

 

Millions of tonnes of cargoes such as coals, concentrates, grains, fertilizers, animal foodstuffs, minerals and ores - are shipped in bulk by sea every year. While the vast majority of these shipments are made without incident, there have been a number of serious casualties, which resulted, not only in the loss of the ship, but also in loss of life.

 

The problems involved in the carriage of bulk cargoes were recognized by the delegates to the 1960 International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, but at that time, it was not possible to frame detailed requirements except for the carriage of grain cargoes. The Conference did recommend, however, in paragraph 55 of Annex D to the Convention, that an internationally acceptable code of safe practice for the shipment of bulk cargoes should be drawn up under the sponsorship of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This work was undertaken by the Organization's Sub-Committee on Containers and Cargoes and several editions of the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (BC Code) have been published, since the first one appeared in 1965.

 

Chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 governs the carriage of solid bulk cargoes, and was amended in 1994 to extend the scope of the chapter, to include bulk cargoes other than grain. The revised chapter entered into force in 1994 included provisions for regulating the carriage of solid bulk cargoes. Chapter VII of the Convention governs the carriage of dangerous goods and includes provisions relating to dangerous goods carried in bulk.

 

Detailed fire protection arrangements for ships carrying solid bulk cargoes are incorporated in chapter II-2 of the SOLAS Convention by regulations 10 and 19. Attention is drawn to regulation II-2/19.4 (or II-2/54.3) of SOLAS Convention as amended, which provides for a Document of Compliance to be issued to ships transporting bulk dangerous goods, as defined in regulation VII/1.1 of the Convention and in the IMDG Code, except class 6.2 and class 7, which are:

 

- cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage or over constructed on or after 1 September 1984; or

 

- cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage constructed on or after 1 February 1992.

 

The BC Code itself provides guidance to Administrations, shipowners, shippers and masters on the standards to be applied in the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes excluding grain, which is dealt with under separate rules. The BC Code includes practical guidance on the procedures to be followed and the appropriate precautions to be taken in the loading, trimming, carriage and discharge of bulk cargoes. The current edition includes all amendments to the BC Code that were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at its seventy-ninth session by resolution MSC.193(79).

 

The major changes that have been adopted are the following:

 

- Appendices A, B and C have been replaced by individual schedules for each cargo in Appendix 1. Cargoes that were listed in appendices A, B or C are now identified by Groups A, B or C in each schedule.

 

- Appendices D to G have been renumbered.

 

The BC Code contains recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships, which are contained in Appendix 7.

 

The list of solid bulk cargoes appearing in the BC Code is by no means exhaustive and the physical or chemical properties attributed to them are intended only for guidance. Therefore, before loading any solid bulk cargo it is essential to ascertain - usually from the shipper - the current physical characteristics and chemical properties of the cargo. In circumstances where, consultation with the competent authority is required prior to bulk shipment of cargoes, it is equally important to consult authorities at the ports of loading and discharge concerning requirements which may be in force.

 

Other information to assist persons responsible for the loading and unloading of solid bulk cargoes is contained in recommendations published by the Organization¹.

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¹ Refer to the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.862(20).

 

Since valuable information leading to improvements in this Code may be obtained from voyage reports, it is recommended that the master notifies his Administration of the behaviour of various types of solid bulk cargoes and, in particular, report any incidents involving such cargoes.

 

The BC Code is recommended to Governments for adoption or for use as the basis for national regulations in pursuance of their obligations under chapters VI and VII of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended. Member States that adopt the Code as a basis for national regulations are invited to advise the Organization accordingly.

 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

 

1. The primary aim of this Code is to promote the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes by:

 

.1 highlighting the dangers associated with the shipment of certain types of solid bulk cargoes;

 

.2 giving guidance on the procedures to be adopted when the shipment of solid bulk cargoes is contemplated;

 

.3 listing typical cargoes currently shipped in bulk together with advice on their properties, handling and carriage; and

 

.4 describing test procedures to be employed to determine various characteristics of the solid bulk cargoes.

 

2. Definitions of the terms used throughout this Code are given in section 1.

 

3. The hazards associated with the shipment of solid bulk cargoes may be considered as falling into the following categories:

 

.1 Structural damage due to improper distribution of the cargo

 

Advice on this subject will be found in section 2 and in the entries for individual cargoes.

 

.2 Loss or reduction of stability during a voyage

 

This usually results from:

 

.2.1 A shift of cargo in heavy weather due to the cargo having been inadequately trimmed or improperly distributed;

 

Advice on this subject will be found in sections 2, 5 and 6, the entries for individual cargoes and in section 2 of Appendix 2.

 

.2.2 Cargoes liquefying under the stimulus of vibration and motion of a ship in a seaway and then sliding or flowing to one side of the cargo hold. Such cargoes contain at least a proportion of finely grained material and moisture (usually