APL can help you meet all national and international regulations to ensure your dangerous cargoes are transported with meticulous care.

The rules governing the safe handling, stowage and shipment of cargoes that can damage life, property or the environment are many and varied. With the help of APL’s highly-trained technical teams, you can ensure that your dangerous cargoes are shipped in full accordance with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) mandatory International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and all other relevant national and local regulations governing shipping and intermodal transport.


General Terms:

  • Acceptance for loading dangerous goods on board our vessels are overseen by APL through CMA CGM Group’s Dangerous Cargo Offices (DCO) in Marseille, Le Havre, Norfolk, Hong Kong and Melbourne. No dangerous goods under the Group’s carriers’ Bill of Lading are allowed to be loaded on the Group’s vessels, or vessels chartered by the Group, or partner’s vessels without prior acceptance by the DCO who will issue an acceptance number.
  • Only dangerous goods complying with IMO rules, national and local regulations, CMA CGM Group policy, Carriers’ instructions and Ship Manager/Planner comments (if there are particular restrictions due to ships’ configuration) will be accepted by the DCO.
  • Important: A booking for shipment of dangerous goods under the APL’s Bill of Lading may be loaded on board partners’ vessels. In such cases, our partners may impose additional restrictions to those listed previously.
  • Shippers will be held fully responsible for any consequences arising from their negligence, or negligence of any person working for them directly or indirectly. Acceptance of hazardous cargoes does not relieve shippers of their obligations.
  • With reference to the IMDG Code, “classification shall be made by the shipper/consignor or by the appropriate competent authority where specified in this Code”. The shipper/consignor needs to take full responsible for the product classification.
  • The shipper shall provide the Dangerous Goods Declaration and the packing certificate duly signed to APL's local representative. Dangerous goods will not be loaded on vessels without these documents.

  • Hazardous Cargo Request

    When making a booking for a dangerous goods shipment, please supply the following information:

    1. 1Consecutive Hazardous Request Number
    2. 2Vessel Name
    3. 3Voyage Number
    4. 4Port of Loading (POL)
    5. 5Port of Discharge (POD)
    6. 6Final Destination
    7. 7Port of Transshipment (if POD is different from Final Destination)
    8. 8Routing (if POD different from final destination and Port of origin is different from POL)
    9. 9Type and size of container
    10. 10Number and kind of outer packing
    11. 11Kind and number (or capacity) of inner packing (Information compulsory only if declared in limited quantity and some particular cases)
    12. 12Is outer packing UN approved (or equivalent) YES / NO
    13. 13UN Number
    14. 14Class/Additional Labels
    15. 15Correct Shipping Name for Hazardous Substance (Including chemical Hazardous Content name giving rise to hazard for NOS)
    16. 16Gross / Net weight (in kg)
    17. 17Flash Point (minimum in Celsius)
    18. 18Marine Pollutant YES / NO
    19. 19EMS & MFAG (if not given by IMDG Code, shipper to provide recommendation)
    20. 20Additional details (exemption/special permit/certificates control/weathering certificate, etc.)
    21. 21Solid/Liquid/Gas
    22. 22Emergency call number (for U.S. ports regulated)
    23. 23Container number

If you have any questions, please contact your APL representative.
Our procedures pertaining to dangerous goods are based on the following references:


ISM Code

SOLAS regulation

MARPOL Convention

IMDG Code

International Maritime Organization