Section 218
of Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations, 2003
Section 218
(1)
The shipper shall provide the master or his representative with appropriate information on the cargo sufficiently in advance of loading to enable the precautions which may be necessary for proper stowage and safe carriage of the cargo to be put into effect. Such information* shall be confirmed in writing t and by appropriate shipping documents prior to loading the cargo on the ship. For the purpose of this regulation, the cargo information required in sub-chapter 1. 9
of the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, adopted by the
Organisation by resolution A. 714( 17), as may be amended, shall be provided.
(2)
The cargo information shall include -
fa) in the case of general cargo, and of cargo carried in cargo units, a general description of the cargo, the gross mass of the cargo or of the cargo units, and any relevant special properties of the cargo;
(b)
in the case of bulk cargo, information on the stowage factor of the cargo, the trimming procedures, likelihood of shifting including angle of repose, if applicable, and any other relevant special properties. In the case
Ill of a concentrate or other cargo which may liquefy, additional information in the form of a certificate on the moisture content of the cargo and its transportable moisture limit; and
* Refer to MSC/Circ.663, Form for cargo information.
t Reference to documents in this regulation does not preclude the use of electronic data processing
(EDPl and electronic data interchange (EDII transmission techniques as an aid to paper documentation.
897
{c) in the case of a bulk cargo not classified in accordance with regulation 227, but which has chemical properties that may create a potential hazard, in addition to the information required by paragraphs {a)
and {b), information on its chemical properties.
!3)
Prior to loading cargo units on board ships, the shipper shall ensure that the gross mass of such units is in accordance with the gross mass declared on the shipping documents.
Oxygen analysis and gas detection equipment.