Dangerous Goods Declaration

Regulation of Dangerous Goods in Hong Kong Waters

• Definition of Dangerous Goods
• Dangerous Goods and Project Section, Marine Department

Ocean-going Vessels and River-trade Vessels

• Submission of Dangerous Goods Manifest
• General Requirements for Carrying of Dangerous Goods in Hong Kong Waters
• Carriage of Explosives Substances, Class 1
• Carriage of Infectious Substances, Class 6.2
• Carriage of Radioactive Materials, Class 7
• Chemical Waste

• General requirements for Carrying of Dangerous Goods
• Permits

• Prohibited Substances Stipulated in Special Provision 900 of the IMDG Code
• Prohibited Substances Stipulated in Local Dangerous Goods Regulations

• MDN No. 36 of 2007 (PDF)
  2006 Amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
• MDN No. 129 of 2002 (PDF)
  Safety Guide for Shipboard container Handling
• MDN No. 167 of 2000 (PDF)
  Safe Working Practice on Carriage of Used Motor Vehicles/Cycles and Related Parts by Vessels
• MDN No. 77 of 1999 (PDF)
  Disposal of Out-of-date Marine Pyrotechnics (Distress Signals)

Enquiries on the application procedures related to carrying of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters, please contact the Dangerous Goods and Project Section of the Marine Department:

Tel.:           (852) 2852 4913

Fax.:         (852) 2815 8596

E-mail:      pfdg@mardep.gov.hk

Website:   http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/ele_services/dgis.html

Address:   Room 308, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

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Regulation of Dangerous Goods in Hong Kong Waters

Dangerous goods means:

• Goods classified in the IMDG Code or any other IMO publication as dangerous for carriage by sea; and
• Any other substance or goods the properties of which might be dangerous if such substance or goods were carried by sea, and includes empty receptacles, and residues in empty tanks or cargo holds, which have used previously for the carriage of dangerous goods, except where such receptacles, empty tanks or cargo holds have been:
  • Cleaned and dried;
  • Gas freed or ventilated as appropriate; or
  • Where the previous contents were radioactive substances, cleaned and adequately closed,
  but shall not include goods forming part of the equipment or stores of the ship in which goods or substances are carried.

• regulating the movements of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters; and
• carrying out random physical check on vessels having onboard dangerous goods to ensure that the relevant code and regulations, such as the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, Cap. 295 and its subsidiary legislation, the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulation, Cap. 413H, and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code are complied with.

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Vessels in the waters of Hong Kong, including those in transit having on board any dangerous goods (DG) shall not less than 48 hours before the estimated time of arrival, and prior to departure, furnish the Director of Marine a manifest of all such dangerous goods. The Dangerous Goods Manifest may be submitted either via the Internet or by hard copy (PDF). The Internet service for submission of DG manifests is provided, for the time being, to registered agents only. Shipping agents wishing to become a registered agent please contact the Dangerous Goods Office.

• The agent/owner/master of any OGV or RTV shall, not less than 48 hours prior to the arrival and prior to departure of the vessel, furnish the Director of Marine a dangerous goods manifest;
• Dangerous goods shall be labelled, placarded, marked, packaged and documented in accordance with the provisions of the IMDG Code;
• Stowage and segregation of dangerous goods shall comply with the provisions of the IMDG Code and Document of Compliance for carrying dangerous goods for the vessel;
• Comply with the local regulations, in particular the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, Cap. 295 and its subsidiary legislation, and the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulation, Cap.413 H; and
• Some sensitive strategic commodities are liable to be controlled by the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations, Cap. 60G, even when they are in transit.  For more information, please contact the Strategic Trade Controls Branch of the Trade and Industry Department.

• Carriage of explosives substances should follow the general requirements for OGV and RTV carrying of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters;
• Anyone who wants to import explosives into Hong Kong has to obtain clearance from the Mines and Quarries Division, Civil Engineering and Development Department, before arranging for the importation of explosives; and
• Except with the permission of the Director of Marine, the vessels should remain and handle explosives in the Western Dangerous Goods Anchorage (WDGA), or in the designated anchorage if the vessels' length or draught exceeds the limitation of WDGA.
• The maximim Net Explosives Quantity (NEQ) of Class 1 dangerous goods (DG) allowed onboard a vessel at any time within the waters of Hong Kong should not exceed 50,000 Kg, i.e. 50 tonnes.

• Carriage of infectious substances should follow the general requirements for OGV and RTV carrying of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters; and
• For import and export of infectious substances, it is subject to the prior approval from the Department of Health.

• Carriage of radioactive materials should follow the general requirements for OGV and RTV carrying of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters;
• Any person or company wishing to import radioactive materials must first obtain a licence from theRadiation Board;
• Obtain an Import / Export License from the Trade and Industry Department;
• Pursuant to the Radiation (Control of Radioactive Substances) Regulations Cap 303A, obtain a permit to move radioactive materials from the Commissioner for Labour;
• Obtain packaging certificates for the radioactive materials issued by appropriate approved authority; and
• Obtain master's declaration on the radioactive materials.

• Follow the general requirements for OGV and RTV carrying of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters;
• Obtain packaging certificates for the radioactive materials issued by appropriate approved authority;
• Obtain master's declaration on the radioactive materials;
• Radioactive materials shall remain in its stowage location on board the vessel at all times when the vessel is inside Hong Kong waters; and
• Radioactive materials may be controlled by the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations, Cap. 60G, even when they are in transit. For more information, please contact the Strategic Trade Controls Branch of the Trade and Industry Department.

Chemical waste, as defined in the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation, Cap. 354C, is any substance or thing being (i) scrap material, (ii) effluent, or (iii) an unwanted substance or by-product arising from the application of or in the course of any process or trade activity, and which is or contains any substance or chemical in such form, quantity or concentration so as to cause pollution, constitute a danger to health or risk of pollution to the environment. The control authority of Chemical Waste is the Environmental Protection Department. Prior approval is required from the Department for carriage or handling of chemical waste within Hong Kong waters.

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Local Vessels

• Any local vessel used for carrying dangerous goods shall possess a Declaration of Fitness (DoF) for the carriage of such dangerous goods.
• A Removal Permit is required for the carriage of dangerous goods of Class 1, explosives. For other dangerous goods, a carriage permit is required.
• Any local vessel used for carrying any dangerous goods shall carry at least a person who has completed a recognized training course when dangerous goods containers are being loaded, unloaded or handled.

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• AMMONIUM BROMATE
• AMMONIUM BROMATE, SOLUTION
• AMMONIUM CHLORATE
• AMMONIUM CHLORATE, SOLUTION
• AMMONIUM CHLORITE
• AMMONIUM COMPOUND, MIXTURE
• AMMONIUM COMPOUND, SOLUTION
• AMMONIUM NITRATE liable to self-heating sufficient to initiate a decomposition
• AMMONIUM NITRITES and mixtures of an inorganic nitrite with an ammonium salt
• AMMONIUM PERMANGANATE
• AMMONIUM PERMANGANATE, SOLUTION
• CHLORIC ACID AQUEOUS SOLUTION with a concentration exceeding 10%
• ETHYL NITRITE pure
• HYDROCYANIC ACID with more than 20% acid, by mass
• HYDROGEN CHLORIDE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID
• HYDROGEN CYANIDE, SOLUTION with more than 45% HYDROGEN CYANIDE
• MERCURY OXYCYANIDE pure
• METHYL NITRITE
• PERCHLORIC ACID with more than 72% acid, by mass
• SILVER PICRATE, dry or wetted with less than 30% water by mass
• ZINC AMMONIUM NITRITE

No person shall manufacture or cause to be manufactured any prohibited goods or have any prohibited goods in his possession, custody or control. Please refer to Regulation 182 of the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations, Cap. 295B for detail of the prohibited substances.

A. The movement of dangerous goods is mainly regulated under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, Cap. 295 and the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulation, Cap 413H.

Q. How to apply for a Removal Permit and Carriage Permit for a local vessel to convey DG?

A. When applying for a Removal Permit and Carriage Permit, the applicant shall provide full details required in the application form and the completed application form is accompanied by:

• Declaration of Fitness for Carriage of the dangerous goods;
• Local licence book of the vessel; and
• Documentary proof of a person who has completed a recognized training course for handling, loading or unloading of dangerous goods.

Q. Do I need a Removal Permit for the conveyance of pyrotechnic special effect materials (PSEM) in the waters of Hong Kong?

A. No. PSEM used for producing entertainment special effects are regulated under the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance, Cap. 560. For conveyance of PSEM in Hong Kong waters, a Conveyance Permit is required from the Television and Entertainment licensing Authority.

Q. Do I need to declare the ship's distress signals?

A. No. The local regulations and IMDG Code do not apply to goods forming part of the equipment or stores of the ship in which goods or substances are carried.

Q. Are there any facilities for the movement of dangerous goods across the harbour?

A. There are dangerous goods vehicular ferry running between Kwun Tong and North Point at regular intervals for movement of IMO Class 1.4S, 2 and 3 dangerous goods. For details, please call Tel. 2390-1677 or 2394-4294.

Q. What is the requirement for carrying small quantity of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters?

A. There is no licensing requirement if the quantity involved is less than the exempted quantities for that substance stipulated in the Dangerous Good (General) Regulations, Cap. 295B.

Q. Is an empty container with residue of dangerous goods considered as dangerous goods?

A. Yes. Any containers with residue of dangerous goods shall be declared as dangerous goods.

Q. Where can I find the local regulations relating to dangerous goods?

A. The local regulations related to dangerous goods as mentioned above can be found at the Department of Justice website http://www.doj.gov.hk/

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