Fire incidents involving charcoal products in containers continue to occur. As a cargo, charcoal presents unique stowage and handling requirements and requires strict safety protocols. In addition to the fire hazard, misdeclaration is known to result in the carrier being unaware of the risk.
The upcoming 2024 edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code will include changes in the requirements applying to charcoal. This edition, incorporating Amendment 42-24, will become voluntary from 1 January 2025 and mandatory from 1 January 2026.
Full advisory at the following link.
https://britanniapandi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Safe-Carriage-of-Charcoal-in-Containers-1.pdf