The AMSA webpage https://www.amsa.gov.au/forms-and-publications/Fact-Sheets/AMSA279.pdf has information to remind all ship owners, ship operators and masters of the requirements for the safe carriage of Ammonium Nitrate on board ships.
Fertilizers Europe published its issue 2014 – Guidance for sea transport of ammonium nitrate based fertilizers at
http://fertilizerseurope.com/fileadmin/user_upload/publications/tecnical_publications/guidence_techn_documentation/Guidance_for_sea_transport_of_ammonium_nitrate_based_fertilizers_01.pdf.
IMO is now working this aspect but no conclusion has been made yet:
• At the last IMO Subcommittee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) held in Sept 2016, relevant progress refers to the enclosed “progress at IMO on Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer”. Basically the substance was that Germany proposed to classify AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER (non-hazardous) as a MHB (OH) Group B cargo.
• The views at IMO CCC (CCC 3 WP.1) and the E&T (E&T 26 WP.1) meetings in Sept 2016 were divided on whether there is enough justification at this time to reclassify the existing schedule for AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER (non-hazardous) from a Group C to a MHB (OH) Group B cargo. As outcome of the meetings, the industry is urged to provide more data and information on AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILIZER (non-hazardous), in particular on the different types of fertilizer and their specific properties that are being shipped under this schedule and on the necessity of the existing requirements for these different types of fertilizer.
• This matter will be considered and discussed at the IMO CCC4 on 11-15 Sept 2017.
Comments to info@intercargo.org are invited and appreciated.
