MARPOL Annex 2 cargo categorization
The following are the criteria used for MARPOL Annex 2 cargo categorization. Noxious liquid substances are divided into four categories as follows:
Category X
Noxious liquid substances which, if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations, are deemed to present a major hazard to either marine resources or human health and, therefore, justify the prohibition of the discharge into the marine environment.
Category Y
Noxious liquid substances which, if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations, are deemed to present a hazard to either marine resources or human health or cause harm to amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea and therefore justify a limitation on the quality and quantity of the discharge into the marine environment.
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Category Z
Noxious liquid substances which, if discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations, are deemed to present a minor hazard to either marine resources or human health and therefore justify less stringent restrictions on the quality and quantity of the discharge into the marine environment.
Other substances (OS)
This is another category into which MARPOL Annex 2 cargo categorization has veen done. Substances indicated as OS (Other substances) in the pollution category column of chapter 18 of the International Chemical Code which have been evaluated and found to fall outside category X, Y or Z as defined above, because they are, at present, considered to present no harm to marine resources, human health, amenities or other legitimate uses of the sea when discharged into the sea from tank cleaning or deballasting operations. The discharge of bilge or ballast water or other residues or mixtures containing only substances referred to as “Other Substances” shall not be subject to any requirements of the Annex.
Carriage of Uncategorized cargo
Where it is proposed to carry a liquid substance in bulk which has not been categorized under the above categories, the Governments of Parties to the Convention involved in the proposed operation shall establish and agree on a provisional assessment for the proposed operation on the basis of the guidelines referred to in Appendix 1 of this regulation. Until full agreement among the Governments involved has been reached, the substance shall not be carried.
As soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after the agreement has been reached, the Government of the producing or shipping country, initiating the agreement concerned, shall notify the Organization and provide details of the substance and the provisional assessment for annual circulation to all Parties for their information. The Organization shall maintain a register of all such substances and their provisional assessment until such time as the substances are formally included in the IBC Code.
Ref: MARPOL Annex II, Regulation 6
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