How to use this Guide
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1588/Rev.2 - Carriage of Dangerous Goods - International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code - (24 May 2022) - Revised Emergency Response Procedures For Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EMS Guide) - Annex - Revised Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide) - How to use this Guide

How to use this Guide

 1 The guidance contained in this Guide is intended for fire and/or spillage (leakage) emergencies on board a ship involving packaged dangerous goods transported in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code. The Guide should not be used for emergencies involving bulk cargoes or any other fire and/or spillage on board a ship which does not involve packaged dangerous goods as cargo.

 2 This guidance is for shipboard use where master and crew have to respond to a fire or a spillage without external assistance. The recommendations are based on the fire safety provisions contained in chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as amended, and the provisions of the IMDG Code. The guidance should be integrated into the contingency plan for shipboard emergencies, which should be specific to the individual ship and should take into account the equipment on board.

 3 There are international and national requirements for ships to contact or report to the nearest coastal State when an incident takes place involving the loss or likely loss of packaged dangerous goods (see Reporting procedures). Contacting shore-based experts at an early stage irrespective of how insignificant the incident may seem to be is recommended. However, it should be noted that shore-based personnel or rescue/ coastguard experts may use different techniques to fight a fire or to deal with spillage on board a ship.

 4 In this Guide, there is separate advice for fire and spillage emergencies which should be consulted accordingly.

 5 This Guide should be used as follows:

  • .1 for fire and spillage, read and incorporate into the ship’s training regime the INTRODUCTIONS to the emergency schedules, before any emergency occurs;

  • .2 in the event of an emergency involving packaged dangerous goods, consult the GENERAL GUIDELINES as a first step; and

  • .3 obtain detailed advice for the specific cargo(es) involved by reading the relevant EMERGENCY SCHEDULE(S) (EmS) for the cargo(es).

Parent topic: Annex - Revised Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide)
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