Transport of dangerous goods by sea is regulated by IMDG Code in order to prevent injury to persons or damage to ships and their cargoes. Transport of marine pollutants is primarily regulated to prevent harm to the marine environment. The objective of the IMDG Code is to enhance the safe transport of dangerous goods while facilitating the free unrestricted movement of such goods.
The IMDG Code contains details of all the numerous dangerous cargoes offered for carriage by sea and includes solid, liquid and gaseous substances. Explosive, flammable, oxidising and radioactive substances are also included and recommended means of their containment or packing are listed, as is all manner of other information relating to the product. Future updating of the Code, on two-year basis, are foreseen in order to take into account technological developments.