TEC-005 - International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) And Medical Oxygen Carriage Requirements

The following changes have been included:

1. APPLICABILITY is amended to clarify that this Marine Notice also pertains to chemical and gas carriers, but not to crude oil tankers.
2. Section 2.2 is amended to clarify that the latest copy of IMDG Code Supplement is to be carried on board .

1. Section 3.3 is amended to provide an example of “trained competent personnel”.

PURPOSE:

This Notice provides the Liberian Administration's policy for compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code requirements, including the policy on the carriage of medical oxygen cylinders.

APPLICABILITY:

This Notice applies to all vessels carrying as cargo dangerous good as defined in regulation 1 of reference (a), and to all ships, irrespective of type and size, carrying as cargo substances, material or articles identified in reference (c) as marine pollutants. It also applies to chemical and gas carriers, but it does not apply to crude oil tankers or to ship’s stores and equipment.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 General Regulations

Reference (a) prescribes the general regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods as cargoes in packaged form or in solid form in bulk. Reference (b) applies to all ships carrying as cargo harmful substances identified as marine pollutants in packaged form by reference (c). All dangerous goods and marine pollutants carried in packaged form on

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Republic of

Liberia, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, 22980 Indian Creek Drive., Suite 200, Dulles, VA 20166,

USA. The most current version of all Marine Notices are available in the Online Library at: http://www.liscr.com

Liberian flagged ships shall be carried and shipped in accordance with reference (c).

• 1. Compliance

• 1. All Liberian ships carrying as cargo dangerous goods or substances identified as a marine pollutant in package form must have on board the latest copy of both Volume 1 and Volume 2 of reference (c).

• 1. IMO has published a separate Supplement to the reference (c) containing Emergency Response Procedures, a Medical First Aid Guide (MFAG), Reporting Procedures, Guidelines for Packing Cargo Transport Units, Recommendations for the Safe Use of Pesticides, and the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on board Ships (INF Code). All Liberian ships carrying as cargo dangerous goods in package form or in solid bulk form or substances identified as a marine pollutant must have on board the latest copy of this Supplement to Reference (c).

• 1. Medical Oxygen

The cargo details found in Volume 1 of reference (c) lists the medical hazards for each specific cargo listed in the Code. For certain cargoes reference (c) requires the carriage of oxygen resuscitation equipment as specified in the MFAG. In general, nearly all of the cargoes listed in reference (c) require medical oxygen.

• 1. The MFAG requires the carriage of a minimum of 44 liters/ 200 bars of oxygen as follows:

1. One (1) 40 liter/200 bars medical oxygen cylinder located in the ship’s hospital, assembled for direct use, equipped with one (1) flowmeter unit (two ports) for supplying oxygen for two (2) persons simultaneously, and

1. One (1) complete portable set, ready for use, with a 2 liter/200 bars medical oxygen cylinder and a spare cylinder (also 2 liter/200 bars). Due to restrictions at some ports, where the maximum re-charging pressure of cylinders is 150 bars, the Administration may accept additional spare cylinders, provided at least eight hundred (800) litres of oxygen is available for use with the portable set at the required flow-rate.

1. Two 20 liter/200 bar medical oxygen cylinders may be used to comply with the 40 liter/200 bar requirement, if the system is arranged so as to be able to supply oxygen to two persons simultaneously.

1. Four 10 liter/200 bar medical oxygen cylinders may be used to comply with the 40 liter/200 bar requirements if the system is arranged so as to be able to supply oxygen to at least two persons simultaneously.

• 1. The medical oxygen can be located either inside or outside of the hospital. If located inside the hospital, it must be ensured the space is properly ventilated in case of escape of the oxygen from the cylinder and that the cylinders are located so that they cannot be easily damaged or disturbed. If located outside of the hospital, the cylinders must be in a protected location and not exposed to excessive heat, flames, or a corrosive atmosphere and located so that they cannot be easily damaged or disturbed. Location of the medical oxygen must be acceptable to the vessel's classification society.

• 1. The medical oxygen cylinders and resuscitation equipment should be inspected and serviced annually, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Servicing should be carried out

TEC-005 2 of 3 02/25

The Republic of Liberia

by trained competent personnel (e.g., a vessel’s licensed deck officers (e.g., 2nd Mate or Chief Mate) who has completed “Medical Care on board” training) and acceptable to the vessel's classification society.

• 1. The contents of the cylinders are to be checked and changed as required according to manufacturer’s requirements or every three years in the absence of manufacturer’s instructions. The cylinders should be hydrostatically tested every five (5) years unless a different interval is specified by the manufacturer.

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TEC-005 3 of 3 02/25

The Republic of Liberia