Chemicals and dangerous goods make up a large proportion of cargo being shipped regularly to the Islands. From basic household items like fly spray and oven cleaners through to commercial propane gas cylinders and aviation fuels, Pacific Direct Line manages the transport needs of a number of hazardous cargo exporters.

Clearly describing Dangerous Goods

It is vital that exporters clearly and fully disclose the hazardous contents of their shipment aboard any commercial craft, whether by air or sea. The shipping line requires at the time of booking, the Commodity name, and D.G. Class and International UN number. This allows the ship cargo planners to separate your booking from those of other dangerous cargo types. This allows us to minimise the risk of chemical reaction in the event of an accident.

Dangerous Goods Declaration

At the time of cargo delivery to the wharf, hazardous cargo must be accompanied by the relevant D.G. declaration in your territory (in Australia the form is known as an MO-41). This document asks for further detail about the cargo, including its chemical name, composition, packaging group, flash point and the contact details of a suitable expert to contact in the event of an accident.

This category covers any items that may pose a risk to the safety of transport staff, wharf handling staff or ships’ crews. Examples include products likely to explode, corrode, give off fumes, burn, pollute marine environments, or react with other chemical substances.

They are clearly described in Dangerous Goods hand-books and MUST be declared to the carrier and the Customs department of the loading and discharging countries. Some examples include fireworks, industrial explosives and chemicals, even some household cleaning goods and alcoholic beverages.