The International Maritime Organization issued circular MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.3, dated June 19, 2024, updating the emergency response procedures for ships carrying dangerous goods.
Background and Approval Process:
- The Maritime Safety Committee first approved the EmS Guide during its 99th session (May 2018). This guide was prepared by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) and finalized by its Editorial and Technical Group.
- The guide has been revised several times to align with updates to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code:
- Rev.1 (Nov 2020): Revised following amendments (40-20) to the IMDG Code, adopted by resolution MSC.477(102).
- Rev.2 (Apr 2022): Further revised based on amendments (41-22) to the IMDG Code, adopted by resolution MSC.501(105).
- Rev.3 (Jun 2024): Latest revision incorporates amendments (42-24) to the IMDG Code, adopted by resolution MSC.556(108).
Purpose of the Revision:
- The revision aims to consolidate and update the Emergency Response Procedures in light of recent amendments to the IMDG Code. The updated guide includes:
- Emergency Schedules: Detailed procedures for responding to fires and spillages involving dangerous goods.
- Guidelines: General instructions on how to manage incidents effectively.
- This updated guide is meant to ensure that maritime operations are well-prepared to handle emergencies involving hazardous materials.
Implementation:
- The revised EmS Guide will be available to member states and relevant parties. The voluntary application date for the amendments (42-24) is January 1, 2025. These amendments will become mandatory on January 1, 2026.
- Member States are advised to familiarize all relevant stakeholders with the updated procedures and ensure they are prepared to implement the changes by the mandatory date.
Content of the Guide:
- The guide includes sections on:
- Fire: Introduction, general guidelines, and emergency schedules for handling fires.
- Spillage: Introduction, general guidelines, and emergency schedules for managing spillages of dangerous goods.
- It also features an index for easy reference.
Supersession:
- MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.3 replaces the previous version, MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.2.
LINK TO ACCESS THE DOCUMENT
![](https://www.marineregulations.news/content/images/2023/08/SignUpForm_pic7-2.webp)
Sign up for our newsletter
It's free. No spam. Cancel anytime.
Related News
Improving IMO's plan on marine plastic litter from ships
Sep 02, 2024
Most important regulatory news published in the last two weeks
Aug 30, 2024
ICS proposal to IMO: Addressing challenges in ballast water management compliance
Aug 29, 2024