IMO: Revised emergency response procedures for dangerous goods - updated EmS Guide

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