Carriage of Radioactive Materials: IMDG Class 7 and the INF Code
Class 7 package type, label category, Transport Index and Criticality Safety Index are distinct dimensions; TI appears on Category II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW, not Category I-WHITE.
Operational Explanation
Package design is selected from contents, activity, fissile status and transport conditions: excepted packages, IP-1/2/3, Type A, Type B(U), Type B(M), Type C and relevant qualifications do not form a simple generic scale. Label category is a separate classification.
Regulatory Reference
IMDG Class 7 and IAEA SSR-6: package design, categories, TI and CSI. INF Code: packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive wastes within applicable thresholds and INF classes. Port/transit authorisations follow competent authority and national law.
Distinguish consignment and port-call approvals from the passage regime. UNCLOS 23 requires documents and precautions established by international agreements during innocent passage; Article 22 permits relevant sea lanes and schemes. Check the route, maritime regime and applicable national requirements with competent authorities: do not declare prior transit approval universally required or universally excluded. UNCLOS, articles 22–24.
Scope of Application
For Class 7 distinguish package type, label category, TI and CSI. Categories I-WHITE, II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW depend on TI and surface radiation level under applicable conditions; TI is not entered on the I-WHITE label. Category is distinct from package type.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Determine package design and approvals under IMDG/IAEA.
- Determine label category separately.
- Enter contents/activity on the prescribed category labels.
- Enter TI only on Category II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW.
- Handle CSI/fissile label separately where applicable.
- Check INF Certificate and INF class only for cargo within scope; check national port/transit authorisations.
Practical Example
Example: 1.2 × 10⁶ TBq of irradiated fuel falls within the INF 2 activity limit, below 2 × 10⁶ TBq. This numerical check is insufficient on its own: check ship certification, package approvals, documentation, emergency plan and consignment requirements. The INF 2 plutonium limit differs: below 2 × 10⁵ TBq. INF Code, 1.1.2.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Treating package types as a linear scale, requiring TI on every Class 7 label or confusing TI with CSI.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Port-call and transit regimes treated as identical | Route requirements omitted or approvals sought without checking their basis | Check port calls, passage regime, documentation and applicable route requirements |
| Ship's INF class not compared with the aggregate activity of the cargo | Cargo that cannot be loaded, or loaded on a ship not certified for that activity level | Read the INF class on the Certificate of Fitness and compare it with the thresholds in paragraph 1.1.2 before accepting the cargo |
| International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of INF Cargo not carried on board | Missing statutory document, detectable in Port State Control under SOLAS I/19 and XI/4 | Check the certificate's validity and class, and that it is consistent with the periodical surveys and the other SOLAS certificates |
| INF Code design and equipment requirements not checked before accepting the cargo | Late discovery of the ship's non-compliance with the specific requirements | Always check the ship's compliance with the INF Code before accepting a cargo subject to this regime |
| Package type (A, B, IP) determined without considering all the relevant properties of the material (activity, heat, radiation, fissility) | Package not compliant with the robustness level required for the specific material | Always determine the required package type considering all the relevant properties of the radioactive material carried |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Start the flag State and port State authorisations early: they involve several authorities, often including the national radiation protection body, each with its own notification deadlines.
- Check port calls and transit separately, document the applicable basis and resolve any disputed requirements with competent assistance before confirming the route.
- Always check the ship's compliance with the INF Code requirements before accepting a cargo of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level waste.
- Determine the required package type (A, B, IP) considering all the relevant properties of the material, not just the activity level.
Preparation checklist
- Package design determined by contents/activity/fissile status
- Label category distinct from package type
- TI only on II/III-YELLOW
- CSI/fissile label separate
- INF scope and certificate checked
- Port/transit approvals checked against national law
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 15 September 2026 · page fingerprint 0f5ced00b513