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IMDG Dangerous Goods Awareness study materials
IMDG Dangerous Goods Awareness study resources

IMDG Dangerous Goods Awareness: Stowage, segregation and handling

IMDG Dangerous Goods Awareness · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Stowage, segregation and handling

What this domain tests

Items here check whether you can apply the stowage requirements from the Dangerous Goods List, use the segregation table and segregation groups, and recognise the distances and physical barriers behind the segregation terms.

Stowage

  • Stowage requirements come from the DGL: a stowage category and stowage codes covering matters such as on-deck-only stowage, distance from living quarters, protection from heat and protection from moisture.
  • On-deck-only stowage is typically required for goods that are dangerous if they escape or accumulate in a hold.

Segregation terms and distances

  • 'Away from': 3 m horizontal separation.
  • 'Separated from': different compartments or holds when under deck; 6 m on deck.
  • 'Separated by a complete compartment or hold from': vertical separation by a deck, or 12 m on deck.
  • 'Separated longitudinally by an intervening complete compartment or hold from': 24 m on deck with an intervening compartment.
  • Apply the class segregation table, then the segregation group rules (acids, alkalis, cyanides, heavy metals, hypochlorites and similar groups) and any segregation codes in the DGL. Where two results differ, the more stringent governs.

Handling

  • Goods must be secured against movement, packed so that leakage is contained, ventilated where required, and handled with the protective equipment the properties column implies. No smoking, no incompatible mixed packing.

Worked example

An acid in segregation group 1 and a cyanide in a different group are offered for one hold. Reasoning: the class segregation table may give only 'away from', but the segregation group rules add a stricter requirement because the two groups react to release toxic gas, so the stricter result applies and both are stowed accordingly. 3 m in the same hold would not satisfy it.

Traps

  • Using only the class table and ignoring segregation groups or DGL codes.
  • Reading 'away from' as 'different hold'.
  • Measuring distances from hold boundaries rather than between the goods.