SOLAS regulation VI/1-2 requires solid bulk cargoes other than grain to be carried in compliance with the relevant provisions of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code. New amendments to the IMSBC Code will enter into force on 1 January 2027, with voluntary implementation from 1 January 2026.

New cargoes

The amendments introduce new individual cargo schedules with specific carriage requirements for the following Group B cargoes (cargoes that possess a chemical hazard which could give rise to a dangerous situation on a ship):

  • Aluminium Sulphate Granular
  • Ferric Sulphate Granular

Note: The above cargoes have been added to the list of cargoes which may be exempted for fixed gas fire-extinguishing system in the cargo holds, published as IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1395/Rev.7.

Castor Beans UN 2969

‘Castor Beans’ cargo has also been renamed, removing reference to Castor Meal, Castor Pomace and Castor Flake.

Fish meal (Fish Scrap), Stabilized

‘Fish Meal (Fish Scrap), Stabilized Anti-oxidant treated’ has effectively been re-classified from a ‘MHB’ cargo to a Class 9 dangerous goods cargo (reversing the change made by the IMO in the 07-23 Amendments to the Code). After the changes come into force, ships will require a dangerous goods Document of Compliance to carry the cargo.

Other changes to the IMSBC Code include:

  • Addition of Group A cargo schedules for ‘Apatite Concentrate’ and ‘Phosphate Rock Fines (uncalcined)’.
  • Addition of Group C cargo schedules for ‘Asphalt Granulates’, ‘Crushed Granodiorite, Coarse’, ‘Fish Meal (Fish Scrap), Stabilized’, ‘Iron Ore Briquettes’, ‘Pea Protein Concentrate Pellets’, ‘Tuff, Coarse’ and ‘Zinc Slag (coarse)’. 

Note: Group A and Group C cargoes are not individually listed on LR’s IMSBC Certification, i.e. the certificate allows carriage of all Group A and C cargoes.

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The requirement for two additional sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) has been removed from several dangerous goods’ cargo schedules in the IMSBC Code, because the same requirement is in SOLAS Regulation II-2/19.3.6. This change removes unnecessary duplication of the requirements. For certain MHB cargoes, two additional SCBA sets are still required by the IMSBC Code, although it has been clarified in the Code that the SCBA sets supplied for SOLAS Regulation II-2/19.3.6.2 may also be used to comply with this requirement.

What shipowners and ship operators should do now

Certification that includes the new Group B cargoes can be requested from Lloyd’s Register after the voluntary application date of 1 January 2026.

For further information

For more details on the amendments and a full list of the new cargoes added to the IMSBC Code, please see MSC.1/Circ.1395/Rev.7 and IMO Resolution MSC.575(110). If you would like to know more or need support with these requirements, please contact statutorysupport@lr.org.