Dangerous Goods Manifest and Notification to Port Authorities
Beyond the Dangerous Goods Declaration for each individual shipment, the ship must keep a complete Dangerous Goods Manifest and notify port authorities of the dangerous goods on board before arrival.
Operational Explanation
The Dangerous Goods Manifest (or List of Dangerous Goods) is the document that summarises all the dangerous goods actually loaded on board, together with their stowage position, as distinct from the Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) that the shipper completes for each individual shipment. The ship is responsible for keeping this manifest up to date and consistent with the actual stowage plan.
SOLAS Regulation VII/4-5 also imposes an obligation to notify port authorities before arrival, indicating the class, quantity and stowage position of the dangerous goods on board, so that the authorities can plan any emergency response.
Regulatory Reference
SOLAS Chapter VII, Regulations 4 and 4-5 (Documents and Reporting requirements) require the ship to keep a Dangerous Goods Manifest or a stowage plan identifying the dangerous goods, and to give advance notification to port authorities. IMDG Code Chapter 5.4 sets out the minimum documentary content.
Scope of Application
Every ship carrying dangerous goods in packaged form, with the Master responsible for keeping the manifest consistent with the cargo actually loaded and for transmitting the notification to the authorities of the next port of call within the required timeframe (typically 24-96 hours before arrival, depending on the jurisdiction).
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Collect all Dangerous Goods Declarations received from shippers/terminals before loading.
- Compile or verify the overall Dangerous Goods Manifest, with the stowage position of each unit.
- Check the consistency between the manifest and the actual stowage plan (bay plan) before departure.
- Transmit the notification to the port authorities of the next port of call within the timeframe required by the local jurisdiction.
- Keep a copy of the manifest on board and make it immediately available on request from the PSC or port/emergency authorities.
Practical Example
Example: before arrival at an EU port, the Master transmits, through the national reporting system (coordinated with SafeSeaNet), the notification of dangerous goods on board, including the IMDG class, quantity and stowage position for each container concerned.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Manifest compiled on the basis of initial declarations without being updated after changes to the stowage plan | Incorrect information on the actual position of the dangerous goods in an emergency | Update the manifest whenever the stowage plan changes, not only at departure |
| Notification to port authorities transmitted later than the required deadline | PSC deficiency and possible local administrative penalties | Check the specific notification deadlines of each jurisdiction well in advance |
| Manifest not immediately available on board at the time of an inspection or emergency | Delay in the emergency response and PSC deficiency | Keep the manifest in a location known to the entire watchkeeping crew, in an easily consultable format |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Do not confuse the Dangerous Goods Declaration (for a single shipment) with the Dangerous Goods Manifest (summary of the entire cargo on board): both are needed.
- Check the specific notification requirements of each port of call: deadlines and formats vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
- Keep the manifest in a format that can be consulted quickly even in emergency conditions, not only as an archived digital file.
Checklist
- Dangerous Goods Manifest compiled and up to date
- Consistency between manifest and actual bay plan verified
- Notification to port authorities transmitted within the required timeframe
- Copy of the manifest available on board for quick consultation
- Manifest update procedure in case of changes defined in the SMS