A chemical cargoes list identifies the products proposed for carriage and the requirements that must be checked before loading. A vessel’s IMO ship type alone does not determine its approved cargoes. Start with the ship’s Certificate of Fitness and the applicable product requirements, then check tank materials, coatings and operating limitations.
What the chemical cargoes list actually is
Distinguish a general product list from the approved list attached to a particular vessel’s certification. The first helps you identify requirements; the second, read with its conditions and tank allocations, tells you what that vessel is approved to carry.
For products covered by Chapter 17 of the IBC Code, check the complete applicable entry, including the required ship type. Do not assume that every bulk liquid belongs in Chapter 17 or that matching the ship type and pollution category completes the approval check. Where a product does not have the entry you expect, obtain the applicable assessment and approval information before treating it as an available cargo.
What is an IMO Type 2 chemical tanker?
An IMO Type 2 chemical tanker is designed for products with appreciably severe environmental and safety hazards, requiring significant measures to prevent cargo escape. The designation concerns the ship’s required protective standard; it is not permission to load every chemical. Verify the proposed product against the vessel’s Certificate of Fitness and the applicable carriage conditions.
IMO ship types 1, 2 and 3 are separate from MARPOL pollution categories X, Y and Z. A ship-type number is not a pollution-category label.
IMO Type 1, 2 and 3: what the labels tell you
| Ship type | Protective standard | Cargo-list check |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Highest protection for products presenting the greatest overall hazard. | Check the named product, approved tanks and all conditions. |
| Type 2 | Significant preventive protection for appreciably severe hazards. | Do not infer a blanket list from the Type 2 designation. |
| Type 3 | A lower containment standard than Types 1 and 2, for the corresponding products. | Lower relative hazard still requires a product-specific check. |
The IMO’s explanation of the IBC Code sets out these ship-type distinctions. This comparison is not a list of products approved for a particular vessel.
Build a cargo-by-cargo checking list
For each proposed parcel, collect the following information before comparing ships:
- Exact product identity: use the applicable shipping name, concentration or grade, rather than a broad commercial family such as “acids” or “solvents”.
- Applicable requirements: record the relevant product entry or assessment and the required ship type and equipment.
- Vessel approval: locate that product in the ship’s certification and record any limitations or tank assignments.
- Tank compatibility: verify material or coating suitability for the precise product, temperature and intended service.
- Handling arrangements: check pumping, piping, heating, venting and segregation against the intended parcel plan.
- Voyage and turnaround: check cargo history, cleaning and residue-handling requirements with the operator.
For example, a broker’s description of a “stainless-steel IMO Type 2 tanker” leaves important questions unanswered: which products are approved, in which tanks, and under what conditions? Stainless steel and a ship-type label do not replace those answers.
Can a Type 2 tanker carry a Type 1 cargo?
Type 2 approval alone is insufficient for a product requiring Type 1 protection. If a specification advertises several ship types or different tank capabilities, read the actual certification and its tank-specific restrictions. Do not infer approval from a headline description or from the fact that a parcel physically fits.
Similarly, a more protective ship-type designation does not by itself approve every product with a lower ship-type requirement. Other product, equipment and certification conditions still need to be satisfied.
MARPOL pollution categories are a separate check
MARPOL Annex II distinguishes X, Y and Z substances by pollution hazard and also identifies other substances (OS). These classifications affect the handling of residues and discharges; they do not act as a substitute for the ship’s cargo approval. See IMO’s overview of chemical carriage and pollution controls.
Check the applicable prewash, stripping and reception-facility requirements for the actual substance, vessel and voyage. A single universal table of tank limits or wash requirements can conceal conditions that matter to a fixture.
How cargo approval affects commercial suitability
A cargo list helps establish which trades a vessel can serve. Tank materials, usable segregations and the handling arrangement may broaden or restrict that opportunity. They are part of the commercial assessment alongside condition, age, operating costs and market demand; the cargo list alone does not determine the vessel’s value.
For a purchase, compare the approved products with your intended trade first. Then use the chemical tanker buying checklist for the separate work of inspecting the vessel and reviewing its records.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one universal Type 2 chemical cargoes list? No. Use product requirements to establish what is needed, then the individual vessel’s approval documents to establish what it may carry.
Are ship type and pollution category interchangeable? No. Record them separately and check the requirements associated with each.
Is a tank-material description enough? No. Confirm suitability for the specified product and service conditions, as well as the vessel’s approval.
Looking for a chemical tanker
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