Chemical Cargoes List: Reading IBC Code Chapter 17

What the Chemical Cargoes List Actually Means for Your Ship

The IBC Code’s Chapter 17 is the definitive list that tells you which bulk liquid chemicals a vessel can carry, what tank type is required, and the safety and pollution controls that must be in place. It is not a generic “dangerous goods” list; it is the exact set of products that your ship’s Certificate of Fitness authorises.

A ship can only carry a product if it appears in Chapter 17 and in the annex that matches its tanks, coatings and systems.

Three Parts of the Code That Interlock

Chapter 17 lists hazardous products and their minimum carriage requirements. Chapter 18 lists products that have been assessed as non‑hazardous and therefore need no special IBC treatment. Chapter 19 is a consolidated index that lets you find a product under any trade name. Chapter 21 explains the criteria used to classify products. Because these criteria are updated, an old code copy can misclassify a cargo and create a safety risk.

Reading a Chapter 17 Entry: What You Need to Know Before Loading

Each row in Chapter 17 contains several columns that together give you the full picture:

• Product name and UN number – the entry must match the shipper’s name exactly; synonyms are not accepted.
• Pollution category – MARPOL Annex II category X, Y, Z or OS, which dictates tank cleaning and discharge rules.
• Hazards – indicates whether the product is a safety hazard, a pollution hazard, or both.
• Ship type – 1, 2 or 3, showing the required structural protection.
• Tank type – independent, integral, gravity or pressure.
• Venting and environmental control – controlled or open venting; whether inerting, padding, drying or ventilation is required.
• Electrical equipment, gauging and vapor detection – certification standard, gauging type (closed, restricted, open) and whether flammable or toxic vapor detection is needed.
• Fire protection – alcohol‑resistant foam, regular foam, water spray or dry chemical.
• Emergency equipment and special requirements – protective suits, breathing sets and a reference to Chapter 15 for product‑specific rules.

Ship Types 1, 2 and 3: Why It Matters

The ship type column is the most critical field. It tells you how much structural protection the hull must provide before cargo can escape.

• Type 1 – for products with very severe safety and environmental hazards. The tank must be located farthest from the hull and the ship must have maximum preventive measures.
• Type 2 – for appreciably severe hazards. Significant preventive measures are required.
• Type 3 – for hazards severe enough to need moderate containment and improved survival capability in a damaged condition.

A Type 1 ship can carry Type 2 and Type 3 cargoes, but not vice versa. No operational precaution can replace the missing structural protection.

Products Not Yet in the Code

New chemicals can reach the market faster than the code is amended. For products awaiting formal listing, a tripartite agreement between the producing country, the receiving country and the flag state applies. Provisional assessments are published in the annual MEPC.2 circular. A cargo offered under a tripartite entry is legitimate, but the ship must hold the specific approval and the circular edition matters because provisional assessments expire.

The Certificate of Fitness: The Real Binding Document

Port state control officers and terminals will ask for the ship’s Certificate of Fitness and its attached product list. That list reflects the ship type, tank coatings, heating and cleaning systems, and the compatibility of construction materials with each named product. A cargo may be legal under Chapter 17 yet still be refused if the coating manufacturer does not approve it or if a residue from the previous cargo reacts with it.

Common Mistakes That Cause Loading Delays

• Accepting a cargo nomination under a trade name without confirming the corresponding Chapter 17 or Chapter 18 entry.
• Checking the code but not the ship‑specific list attached to the Certificate of Fitness.
• Ignoring the compatibility check against the previous cargo and the tank coating resistance list.
• Planning tank cleaning before confirming the pollution category, then discovering a category X prewash requirement with a surveyor attendance.
• Using a superseded edition of the code or an out‑of‑date MEPC.2 circular.

How to Verify Before You Load

Before the next chemical fixture, cross‑check three documents in this order:

• The Chapter 17 entry for the named product.
• The ship product list attached to the Certificate of Fitness.
• The coating resistance list against the previous cargo.

For deeper understanding of MARPOL Annex II tank cleaning and prewash requirements, see the Marine Insight 360 Knowledge Base section on MARPOL Annex II .

Next Steps for Shipping Professionals

Verify your ship’s product list against the latest Chapter 17 entry and the current MEPC.2 circular. If you are handling a new chemical, confirm the tripartite assessment and ensure the ship’s Certificate of Fitness includes the product. For detailed guidance on tank cleaning, visit the Marine Insight 360 Knowledge Base.

For related equipment checks and troubleshooting guides, continue with the marine machinery knowledge base.