No. 11 of 2024 - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CARRIAGE OF PLASTIC PELLETS BY SEA IN FREIGHT CONTAINERS
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR
NO. 11 of 2024
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
21st Storey mTower
Singapore 119963
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
23 October 2024
Applicable to: Shipowners, ship managers, operators, agents and masters of
Singapore-registered ships
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CARRIAGE OF PLASTIC PELLETS BY SEA IN
FREIGHT CONTAINERS
This circular brings to the attention of the shipping community the
recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers (Annex
A), approved by the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment
Protection Committee at its eighty-first session (MEPC 81), through Circular
MEPC.1/Circ.909. The shipping community is encouraged to adopt the
recommendations while taking additional care and appropriate action during the
maritime transport of plastic pellets in packaged form.
- The recommendations are as follow:
I. PACKAGING
Plastic pellets must be packaged in high-quality materials that can endure
the typical shocks and pressures experienced during transportation. The
packaging should be designed and sealed to prevent any loss of contents
due to vibrations or acceleration forces that may occur under standard
transport conditions.
II. IDENTIFICATION
Transport information should clearly indicate, in addition to the cargo details
mandated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) Regulation VI/2, any freight containers that hold plastic pellets. The
shipper should also complement the cargo information with a special
stowage request as per the stowage recommendations.
III. STOWAGE
Freight containers with plastic pellets should be stowed and secured
properly to reduce risks to the marine environment while ensuring the safety
of the ship and its crew. Specifically, these containers should be stowed:
a) under deck wherever reasonably practical; or
b) inboard in sheltered areas of exposed decks.
- The above recommendations are the first step in a two-stage approach to
reduce the environmental risks associated with the carriage of plastic pellets in
packaged form by sea, pending the MEPC’s consideration of future mandatory
measures for the carriage of plastic pellets in freight containers.
- The shipping community is encouraged to implement the recommendations in
Circular MEPC.1/Circ.909, and provide feedback on the experience gained during the
implementation of these recommendations to MPA’s Shipping Division via email at
shipping@mpa.gov.sg.
- Do subscribe to our Telegram channel – t.me/MPASingapore to receive the
latest updates.
CHEAH AUN AUN
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
Annex A