International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 

Done at London 17 June 1960 

Entered into Force: 26 May 1965 

CHAPTER VII 

CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS 

Regulation 1 

APPLICATION 

(a) Unless expressly provided otherwise, this Chapter applies to 
the carriage of dangerous goods in all ships to which the 
present Regulations apply. 

(b) The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to ship's stores 
and equipment or to particular cargoes carried in ships 
specially built or converted as a whole for that purpose, such 
as tankers. 

(c) The carriage of dangerous goods is prohibited except in 
accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. 

(d) To supplement the provisions of this Chapter each 
Contracting Government shall issue, or cause to be issued, 
detailed instructions on the safe packing and stowage of 
specific dangerous goods or categories of dangerous goods which 
shall include any precautions necessary in their relation to 
other cargo. 

Regulation 2 

CLASSIFICATION 

Dangerous goods shall be divided into the following classes: 

Class 1: Explosives. 

Class 2: Gases: compressed, liquefied or dissolved under 
pressure. 

Class 3: Inflammable liquids. 

Class 4: (a)Inflammable solids. 

Class 4: (b) Inflammable solids, or Substances, liable to 
spontaneous combustion. 

Class 4: (c) Inflammable solids, or substances, which in contact 
with water emit inflammable gases. 

Class 5: (a) Oxidizing substances. 

Class 5: (b) Organic peroxides. 

Class 6: (a) Poisonous (toxic) substances. 

Class 6:(b) Infectious substances. 

Class 7: Radioactive substances, 

Class 8: Corrosives. 

Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances, that is any other 
substance which experience has shown, or may show, to be of such 
a dangerous character that the provisions of this Chapter should 
apply to it. 

Regulation 3 

PACKING 

(a) The packing of dangerous goods shall be (i) well made and in 
good condition; (ii) of such a character that any interior 
surface with which the contents may come in contact is not 
dangerously affected by the substance being conveyed and (iii) 
capable of withstanding the ordinary risks of handling and 
carriage by sea. 

(b) Where the use of absorbent or cushioning material is 
customary in the packing of liquids in receptacles that material 
shall be (i) capable of minimising the dangers to which the 
liquid may give rise, (ii) so disposed as to prevent movement 
and ensure that the receptacle remains surrounded and (iii) 
where reasonably possible of sufficient quantity to absorb the 
liquid in the event of breakage of the receptacle. 

(c) Receptacles containing dangerous liquids shall have an 
ullage at the filling temperature sufficient to allow for the 
highest temperature during the course of normal carriage. 

(d) Cylinders or receptacles for gases under pressure shall be 
adequately constructed, tested, maintained and correctly filled. 

(e) Empty receptacles which have been used previously for the 
carriage of dangerous goods shall themselves be treated as 
dangerous goods unless they have been cleaned and dried or, when 
the nature of the former contents permit with safety, have been 
closed securely. 

Regulation 4 

MARKING AND LABELLING 

Each receptacle containing dangerous goods shall be marked with 
the correct technical name (trade names shall not be used) and 
identified with a distinctive label or stencil of the label so 
as to make clear the dangerous character. Each receptacle shall 
be so labelled except receptacles containing chemicals packed in 
limited quantities and large shipments which can be stowed, 
handled and identified as a unit. 

Regulation 5 

DOCUMENTS 

(a) In all documents relating to the carriage of dangerous goods 
by sea where the goods are named the correct technical name of 
the goods shall be used (trade names shall not be used) and the 
correct description given in accordance with the classification 
set out in Regulation 2 of this Chapter 

(b) The shipping documents prepared by the shipper shall 
include, or be accompanied by, a certificate or declaration that 
the shipment offered for carriage is properly packed, marked and 
labelled and in proper condition for carriage. 

(c) Each ship carrying dangerous goods shall have a special list 
or manifest setting forth, in accordance with Regulation 2 of 
this Chapter, the dangerous goods on board and the location 
thereof. A detailed stowage plan which identifies by class and 
sets out the location of all dangerous goods on board may be 
used in place of such special list or manifest. 

Regulation 6 

TEMPORARY EXCEPTIONS TO REGULATIONS 4 AND 5 

Contracting Governments which have a uniform system of rules for 
land and sea transport relating to the carriage of dangerous 
goods and cannot therefore immediately apply the provisions of 
Regulations 4 and 5 of this Chapter may authorise departures 
from the provisions of those Regulations for a period not - 
exceeding twelve months from the date on which the Convention 
comes into force, provided that dangerous goods as classified in 
Regulation 2 of this Chapter are also so classified in the 
shipping documents and are labelled accordingly. 

Regulation 7 

STOWAGE REQUIREMENTS 

(a) Dangerous goods shall be stowed safely and appropriately 
according to the nature of the goods. Incompatible goods shall 
be segregated from one another. 

(b) Explosives (except ammunition) which present a serious risk 
shall be stowed in a magazine which shall be kept securely 
closed while at sea. Such explosives shall be segregated from 
detonators. Electrical apparatus and cables in any compartment 
in which explosives are carried shall be designed and used so as 
to minimise the risk of fire or explosion. 

(c) Goods which give off dangerous vapours shall be stowed in a 
well ventilated space or on deck. 

(d) In ships carrying inflammable liquids or gases special 
precautions shall be taken where necessary against fire or 
explosion. 

(e) Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating or 
combustion shall not be carried unless adequate precautions have 
been taken to prevent the outbreak of fire. 

Regulation 8 

EXPLOSIVES IN PASSENGER SHIPS 

(a) In passenger ships the following explosives only may be 
carried: 

(i) safety cartridges and safety fuses; 

(ii) small quantities of explosives not exceeding 20 pounds (or 
9 kilograms) total net weight; 

(iii) distress signals for use in ships or aircraft, if the 
total weight of such signals does not exceed 2,240 pounds (or 
1,016 kilograms); 

(iv) except in ships carrying unberthed passengers, fireworks 
which are unlikely to explode violently. 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this 
Regulation additional quantities or types of explosives may be 
carried in passenger ships in which there are special safety 
measures approved by the Administration. 

CHAPTER VIII 

NUCLEAR SHIPS 

Regulation 1 

APPLICATION 

This Chapter applies to all nuclear ships except ships of war. 

Regulation 2 

APPLICATION OF OTHER CHAPTERS 

The Regulations contained in the other Chapters of the present 
Convention apply to nuclear ships except as modified by this 
Chapter. 

Regulation 3 

EXEMPTIONS 

A nuclear ship shall not, in any circumstances, be exempted from 
compliance with any Regulations of this Convention. 

Regulation 4 

APPROVAL OF REACTOR INSTALLATION 

The design, construction and standards of inspection and 
assembly of the reactor installation shall be subject to the 
approval and satisfaction of the Administration and shall take 
account of the limitations which will be imposed on surveys by 
the presence of radiation. 

Regulation 5 

SUITABILITY OF REACTOR INSTALLATION FOR SERVICE ON BOARD SHIP 

The reactor installation shall be designed having regard to the 
special conditions of service on board ship both in normal and 
exceptional circumstances of navigation, 

Regulation 6 

RADIATION SAFETY 

The Administration shall take measures to ensure that there are 
no unreasonable radiation or other nuclear hazards, at sea or in 
port, to the crew, passengers or public, or to the waterways or 
food or water resources. 

Regulation 7 

SAFETY ASSESSMENT 

(a) A Safety Assessment shall be prepared to permit evaluation 
of the nuclear power plant and safety of the ship to ensure that 
there are no unreasonable radiation or other hazards, at sea or 
in port, to the crew, passengers or public, or to the waterways 
or food or water resources. The Administration, when satisfied, 
shall approve such Safety Assessment which shall always be kept 
up-to-date. 

(b) The Safety Assessment shall be made available sufficiently 
in advance to the Contracting Governments of the countries which 
a nuclear ship intends to visit so that they may evaluate the 
safety of the ship. 

Regulation 8 

OPERATING MANUAL 

A fully detailed Operating Manual shall be prepared for the 
information and guidance of the operating personnel in their 
duties on all matters relating to the operation of the nuclear 
power plant and having an important bearing on safety. The 
Administration, when satisfied, shall approve such Operating 
Manual and a copy shall be kept on board the ship. The Operating 
Manual shall always be kept up-to-date. 

Regulation 9 

SURVEYS 

Survey of nuclear ships shall include the applicable 
requirements of Regulation 7 of Chapter I, or of Regulations 8, 
9 and 10 of Chapter I, except in so far as surveys are limited 
by the presence of radiation. In addition, the surveys shall 
include any special requirements of the Safety Assessment. They 
shall in all cases, notwithstanding the provisions of 
Regulations 8 and 10 of Chapter I, be carried out not less 
frequently than once a year. 

Regulation 10 

CERTIFICATES 

(a) The provisions of paragraph (a) of Regulation 12 of Chapter 
I and of Regulation 14 of Chapter I shall not apply to nuclear 
ships. 

(b) A Certificate, called a Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety 
Certificate shall be issued after inspection and survey to a 
nuclear passenger ship which complies ,with the requirements of 
Chapters 11, III, IV and VIII, and any other relevant 
requirements of the present Regulations. 

(c) A Certificate, called a Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety 
Certificate shall be issued after inspection and survey to a 
nuclear cargo ship which satisfies the requirements for cargo 
ships on survey set out in Regulation 10 of Chapter 1, and 
complies with the requirements of Chapters II, III, IV, and 
VIII, and any other relevant requirements of the present 
Regulations. 

(d) Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificates and Nuclear Cargo 
Ship Safety Certificates shall state: "That the ship, being a 
nuclear ship, complied with all requirements of Chapter VIII of 
the Convention and conformed to the Safety Assessment approval 
for the ship". 

(e) Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificates and Nuclear Cargo 
Ship Safety Certificates shall be valid for a period of not more 
than 12 months. 

(f) Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificates and Nuclear Cargo 
Ship Safety Certificates shall be issued either by the 
Administration or by any person or organization duly authorised 
by it. In every case, that Administration assumes full 
responsibility for the certificate. 

Regulation 11 

SPECIAL CONTROL 

In addition to the control established by Regulation 19 of 
Chapter 1, nuclear ships shall be subject to special control 
before entering the ports and in the ports of Contracting 
Governments, directed towards verifying that there is on board a 
valid Nuclear Ship Safety Certificate and that there are no 
unreasonable radiation or other hazards at sea or in port, to 
the crew, passengers or public, or to the waterways or food or 
water resources. 

Regulation 12 

CASUALTIES 

In the event of any accident likely to lead to an environmental 
hazard the master of a nuclear ship shall immediately inform the 
Administration. The master shall also immediately inform the 
competent Governmental authority of the country in whose waters 
the ship may be, or whose waters the ship approaches in a 
damaged condition.