This document has been revoked by MSC.1/Circ.1649
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninetieth
session (16 to 25 May 2012), noted that Member Government reports,
submitted in accordance with the format set out in annex 2 to this
circular, on inspections of cargo transport units (CTUs), as they
are defined in chapter 1.2 of the IMDG Code, carrying dangerous goods
for international transport by sea, could benefit by having guidance
on how to conduct the inspections being reported. Inspection procedures
and protocols may vary, depending on the specific type of CTU, on
how it is presented for inspection (e.g. whether mounted on chassis
or grounded), and on the need for additional precautions dependent
upon the specific nature of the dangerous goods (e.g. radioactive,
explosive, inhalation hazard).
2 The inspection guidance found in annex 1, while
not in all cases definitive, is intended to provide Member Governments
with adequate inspection guidelines and procedures to prompt substantial
compliance with IMO standards and is applicable to all types of CTUs.
Related circulars may be developed or updated to address peculiarities
of specific types of CTUs and to provide greater detail on certain
inspection items such as structural integrity (see resolution MSC.310(88)).
3 Noting that in those countries where regular inspection
programmes have been implemented, a considerable improvement has been experienced in the
general compliance with those standards, the Committee decided to offer inspection
guidance to Member Governments to facilitate improvement to and implementation of
inspection programmes. To avoid the diverting of dangerous goods to ports where
inspections are not carried out, a regional approach should be taken. In cases where the
safety of the transport of dangerous goods is compromised as a result of serious or
repeated infringements by an enterprise which has its headquarters on the territory of
another competent authority, that competent authority should be notified of such
infringements in order to investigate and take actions against those responsible.
4 To help identify areas of improvement to pertinent
IMO standards, Member Governments are requested to continue providing
reports on inspections of cargo transport units. Assuming inspection
procedures among Member Governments are comparable to the guidelines
contained in annex 1, these reports provide an ability to justify
and effect safety improvements without the need for an actual safety
incident. To aid the Organization in evaluating the reports, Governments
are invited to submit their reports in a structured manner, using
the format given in annex 2, with at least the following information:
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.1 number of CTUs examined;
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.2 number of CTUs found with deficiencies; and
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.3 number of deficiencies relating to each inspection
item as noted.