Newly established Dangerous Goods Notification System

Dangerous Goods Declaration :

General Information

Labels and Classification of Dangerous Goods in International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code):

Numerals shall be about 30 mm in height and be about 5 mm thick (for a label measuring 100 mm by 100 mm). Figure ‘1’ in bottom corner.

** Place for division – to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk.

* Place for compatibility group – to be left blank if explosive is the subsidiary risk.

Regulation of Dangerous Goods in Hong Kong Waters

• Definition of Dangerous Goods
• Dangerous Goods Unit, Marine Department

• 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 in Hong Kong Waters
• DG Permits

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

• MDN No. 39 of 2012 (PDF)
  Enhanced Management Mechanism for the Conveyance of Dangerous Goods by Locally Licensed Vessels

For enquiries on the application procedures on carriage of dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters, please contact the Dangerous Goods Unit of the Marine Department by the following means:

Regulation of Dangerous Goods in Hong Kong Waters

• goods classified in the IMDG Code or any other IMO publication as dangerous in nature; and
• any other substance or goods the properties of which might be dangerous if such substance or goods, including empty receptacles, and residues in empty tanks or cargo holds, which have been 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 conveyance of dangerous goods in packaged form at sea within Hong Kong waters; and
• carrying out random physical check on vessels having or not 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.

• The owner, agent, or master of any OGV or RTV shall, not less than 48 hours prior to the arrival of the vessel, furnish the Director of Marine with 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 the Document of Compliance of the vessel for carrying dangerous goods.
• The Hong Kong legislation, in particular the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, Cap. 295, and its subsidiary legislation, and the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulation, Cap. 413H, shall be complied with.
• 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.

• The General Requirements for an OGV or a RTV carrying dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters shall be followed.
• The clearance from the Mines and Quarries Division, Civil Engineering and Development Department shall be obtained prior to importation of explosives.
• Except with the permission of the Director of Marine, a vessel carrying explosives shall remain and handle the explosives in the Western Dangerous Goods Anchorage (WDGA), or in a designated anchorage if the vessel’s length or draught exceeds the limitation of the WDGA.
• The maximum allowable Net Explosives Quantity (NEQ) of Class 1 DG onboard a vessel at any time within Hong Kong waters shall not exceed 50,000 kg.

• The General Requirements for an OGV or a RTV carrying dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters shall be followed.
• The import and export of infectious substances are subject to the prior approval of the Department of Health.

• The General Requirements for an OGV or a RTV carrying dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters shall be followed.
• For importation or conveyance of radioactive materials, the following documents, as appropriate, shall first be obtained:

(a)	an Import / Export License from the Trade and Industry Department for strategic commodities ;
(b)	a license / permit from the Radiation Board / Labour Department for removal of radioactive materials, pursuant to Regulation 7 of the Radiation (Control of Radioactive Substances) Regulations, Cap 303A;
(c)	the IMO DG Declaration and the Packaging Certificate issued by the appropriate authority, or the Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form issued by the shipper; and
(d)	the master's declaration on or the agent’s application for carriage of radioactive materials.
	The Marine Department may issue a written permission to the applicant if the above requirements are met.

For a Vessel Carrying Radioactive Materials in transit :

• The General Requirements for an OGV or a RTV carrying dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters shall be followed.
• The following documents shall be obtained:

  (a)	the IMO DG Declaration and the Packaging Certificate issued by appropriate authority, or the Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form issued by the shipper; and
  (b)	the master's declaration on or agent’s application for carriage of radioactive materials.

• The radioactive materials shall remain in their stowage location on board the vessel at all times when the vessel is inside Hong Kong waters.
• 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.

  The Marine Department may issue a written permission to the applicant if the above requirements are met.

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 specified 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.

Local Vessels

General Requirements for Carrying Dangerous Goods

• A local vessel used for carrying dangerous goods shall possess the following valid documents:
  • Operating Licence
  • Declaration of Fitness (DoF) for the carriage of such dangerous goods.
• For the carriage of Class 1 DG (explosives), a Removal Permit is required. In addition, if staying at the WDGA during the night hours is necessary, a Night-staying Permit is required.
• For other dangerous goods, a Carriage Permit is required.
• The handling of dangerous goods on board a local vessel shall be under the charge of a person who has completed a recognised training course.
• A local vessel shall notify the Director of Marine of the specified details of the voyage and dangerous goods for and before every voyage on which dangerous goods are carried on board, according to the “Dangerous Goods Notification System” .

DG Permits

• AMMONIUM HYPOCHLORITE
• AMMONIUM NITRATE liable to self-heating sufficient to initiate decomposition
• AMMONIUM NITRITES and mixtures of an inorganic nitrite with an ammonium salt
• CHLORIC ACID, AQUEOUS SOLUTION with more than 10% chloric acid
• ETHYL NITRITE pure
• HYDROCYANIC ACID, AQUEOUS SOLUTION (HYDROGEN CYANIDE, AQUEOUS SOLUTION) with more than 20% hydrogen cyanide
• HYDROGEN CHLORIDE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID
• HYDROGEN CYANIDE SOLUTION, IN ALCOHOL 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

Prohibited Substances Stipulated in Local Dangerous Goods Regulation


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.

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FAQ

Q. How is the movement of dangerous goods regulated in Hong Kong waters?

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 do I apply for a Removal Permit and Carriage Permit for a local vessel intended to convey dangerous goods?

A. To apply for a Removal Permit or Carriage Permit for a vessel, you shall submit a completed application form together with the following:

• the vessel’s Declaration of Fitness for carriage of the dangerous goods;
• the vessel’s Operating Licence ; and
• a documentary proof of a person who has completed a recognised training course for loading, unloading and handling of dangerous goods on board.

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

A. You do not need a Removal Permit for such purpose. However, PSEM used for producing entertainment special effects are regulated under the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance, Cap. 560. So, for conveyance of PSEM in Hong Kong waters, a Conveyance Permit is required from the Create Hong Kong.

Q. Do I need to declare the distress signals of a ship?

A. You do not need to do so. The local regulations and IMDG Code do not apply to goods forming part of the equipment or stores of a ship on which goods or substances are carried.

Q. Are there any means to move dangerous goods across the harbour?

A. Scheduled dangerous goods vehicular ferries are plying between Kwun Tong and North Point to move certain types of dangerous goods across the harbour.

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

A. There is no specific requirement if the quantity of the substance intended to be carried is less than the “maximum quantity for which a licence not required” for that substance as stipulated in the Dangerous Good (General) Regulations, Cap. 295B.

Q. Is an empty container containing dangerous goods residue considered a kind of dangerous goods?

A. A container containing dangerous goods residue is considered a kind of dangerous goods and shall be declared as dangerous goods.

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

A. The local regulations relating to dangerous goods as mentioned in this web page can be found on the Internet at : https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/ .

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