Industry Publication Set Guidelines for the Carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite

New Guidelines for the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite in containers have been published jointly by CINS (the Cargo Incident Notification System) and the International Group of P&I Clubs. Global production of Calcium Hypochlorite for both domestic and export markets is estimated at about 400,000 tons per year. The product is marketed widely as “chlorine powder” or “bleach powder” for applications such as water treatment or as a bleaching agent.

The practices set out in the new Guidelines are intended to allow the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite under controlled circumstances, to ensure that it is properly declared, packaged and carried. The practices are also intended to encourage carriers to have the confidence to accept the commodity for shipment under an acceptable method.

The IG Clubs have, in recent years, observed an apparent upsurge in container fires involving Calcium Hypochlorite, leading to some lines imposing very strict carriage precautions or even outright carriage bans. Fire incident investigations also suggest that, in the vast majority of cases, the Calcium Hypochlorite has been either mis-declared by shippers (therefore wrongly described as a product that would ordinarily be considered harmless); or having less strict carriage requirements under the IMDG Code. However, both the Protection and Indemnity Clubs (under the International Group of P&I Clubs) and the member Carriers of CINS fully recognize that many responsible shippers do properly declare their Calcium Hypochlorite shipments. These have been carried without incident, by applying the additional precautions recommended by the IG Clubs as well as the Carriers own precautions, which have led to this joint recommendation. Given the large quantities of Calcium Hypochlorite that are shipped each year, there is an obvious desire to both discourage mis-declaration by shippers and to encourage shipping lines’ confidence in the carriage of properly declared Calcium Hypochlorite under an acceptable method.

Working groups established by members of CINS and the IG Clubs have shared their views and experience. It is intended that the resulting new Guidelines will be seen as providing a clearer and more logical step-by-step guidance, starting with issues surrounding cargo hazards and categorization under the IMDG Code, through to issues concerning container selection, container stuffing and stowage on the ship.

Key recommendations of the Guidelines are the use of plastic drums with adequate air circulation, a package limit of 45 kg net weight and a limit on the maximum payload per container not exceeding 14 tons. Dry or reefer containers may be used - provided that a proper risk assessment is undertaken.