The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 108th session (15 to 24 May 2024), approved amendments to MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.2, resulting from the amendments (42-24) to the IMDG Code, as adopted by resolution MSC.556(108). Consequently, the Maritime Safety Committee decided that it would be preferable to prepare a revised consolidated version of the EmS Guide, with a view to dissemination as MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.3.
This EmS Guide contains guidance on Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods including the emergency schedules (EmS) to be followed in case of incidents involving dangerous substances, materials or articles, or harmful substances (marine pollutants), regulated under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).
This edition takes into account the Amendment 42-24 to the IMDG Code. The EmS Guide will be further amended as and when necessary to reflect amendments made to the IMDG Code.
The purpose of this Guide is to provide guidance for dealing with fires and spillages (leakages) on board ships involving the dangerous goods listed in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).
In accordance with the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code), all ships, and the companies responsible for their operation, are required to maintain a safety management system (SMS). Within the SMS, procedures for responding to potential shipboard emergencies are required. This Guide is intended to assist shipowners, ship operators and other parties concerned with developing such emergency response procedures, which should be integrated into the ship’s contingency plan.
In November 1997, the IMO Assembly adopted resolution A.852(20) on Guidelines for a structure of an integrated system of contingency planning for shipboard emergencies, which were further revised by resolution A.1072(28) in December 2013 and amended by its Corr.1 in May 2014. This Guide should be integrated into Module IV on Response actions, as contained in paragraph 3.2.4.6 of the latter resolution, for cargo-related incidents.
In the event of a fire or spillage incident, initial actions should be carried out in accordance with the shipboard emergency plan. Where dangerous goods are involved, the responses in the emergency plan should be based on this Guide for specific dangerous goods having regard to, inter alia, the type of ship, the quantity and type of packaging of the dangerous goods and whether the goods are stowed on or under deck.
In this Guide, there is separate advice for fire and spillage emergencies which should be consulted cccordingly.
This Guide should be used as follows:
.1 for fire and spillage, read and incorporate into the ship’s training regime the INTRODUCTIONS to the
emergency schedules, before any emergency occurs;
.2 in the event of an emergency involving packaged dangerous goods, consult the GENERAL GUIDELINES
as a first step; and
.3 obtain detailed advice for the specific cargo(es) involved by reading the relevant EMERGENCY SCHEDULE(S) (EmS) for the cargo(es).