SOLAS Update: Revised Emergency Response Procedures For Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide)

(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) This EmS Guide contains guidance on Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods including the emergency schedules (EmS) to be followed in case of incidents involving dangerous substances, materials or articles, or harmful substances (marine pollutants), regulated under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).

The purpose of this Guide is to provide guidance for dealing with fires and spillages (leakages) on board ships involving the dangerous goods listed in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). In accordance with the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code), all ships, and the companies responsible for their operation, are required to maintain a safety management system (SMS). Within the SMS, procedures for responding to potential shipboard emergencies are required.

This Guide is intended to assist shipowners, ship operators and other parties concerned with developing such emergency response procedures, which should be integrated into the ship’s contingency plan.

In the event of a fire or spillage incident, initial actions should be carried out in accordance with the shipboard emergency plan. Where dangerous goods are involved, the responses in the emergency plan should be based on this Guide for specific dangerous goods having regard to, inter alia, the type of ship, the quantity and type of packaging of the dangerous goods and whether the goods are stowed on or under deck.

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 (SOLAS) 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. 1. 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).

You can download the full IMO guidance paper below:

Source: IMO