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2020 Low Sulphur overshadowing IBC Code 2021

As surely as the waters are in constant motion, the factors which shape the operating environment of the shipping industry are in constant flux.

Reducing the impact of human activity on the planet continues to dominate environmental matters. Climate change, global warming and CO2 has been front and center for quite some time now.

This may be one of the reasons why the majority of recent industry media focus has been on the introduction of the 2020 Low Sulphur Fuel requirements.

As part of the effort to reduce pollution and improve air quality, the impacts are expected to be felt by the entire the shipping industry.

The issue has broken into the mainstream media with the UK edition of The Daily Telegraph reporting the health hazards to passengers taking the air on the decks of cruise liners from engine exhaust products.

However, the high level of media coverage may be overshadowing coming alterations to the IBC Code, effective on 01 January 2021.

The IBC Code changes will have very significant and dramatic effects on the chemical and vegetable oil transportation segment of the market. Unfortunately, many in the industry remain unaware and unprepared for the changes.

New Milbros system tab for IBC Code 2021

As part of our rolling program of updates, Milbros is continually reviewed to see where we can make improvements to add more value and promote higher standards of safety. This has led to the introduction of the new IBC Code 2021 feature.

IBC Code 2021 changes recently added 

The IBC Code is the international standard for the safe carriage in bulk by sea of dangerous chemicals and noxious liquid substances. There are significant changes to the IBC Code effective for cargoes loaded after 1 January 2021.

An overview of the changes includes:

  • New classification for Wax Cargos (change in category types and changes in names)
  • Changing the handling and safety requirements for many cargoes
  • Could lead to addendums to the ships’ COF
  • Changes in prewash requirements for Veg Oils in northern Europe
  • Impacts for Toxic cargoes

Drilling down reveals details such as:

  • Changes to handling and safety requirements for 86% of the 845 Product Names listed in Chapters 17 & 18 of the IBC Code
  • Some cargoes previously listed on a ship’s COF that will no longer be allowed to be carried on the same ship
  • Increase in the number of cargos classified as Toxic in Chapter 17 – up from 231 to 429 substances, including Methanol, Diethylene Glycol, MIBK, Nonyl alcohol, n-Propyl Alcohol, Octanol
  • A long list of persistent floater cargoes including vegetable oils and fats, paraffins and waxes will require Prewash after discharge in NW European ports
  • The area includes ports north of Gibraltar and east of the west coast of Ireland, and ports in the North, Norwegian and Baltic Seas
  • These products will be identified in Chapter 17 of the IBC Code with a new paragraph 16.2.7 in column “o”.

To make sure the latest information is at the fingertips of Milbros system users, the 2021 changes are located under a special tab called IBC Code 2021 which indicates the new carriage requirements for all cargos. The Onboard/Offline version of the program will be updated with this new information at some later date.

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