INTERNATIONAL GROUP  WORKING GROUP ON CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE  RECOMMENDATIONS ON CARRIAGE OF CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE 21 September 2000 No.00-011 We refer to the Working Group's previous Recommendations on Carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite UN Nos. 1479,1748,2208,2880 and to The International Maritime Organisation s (IMO) Marine Safety Circular No.963 dated 1st June 2000. After several large fires in cargo ships in the 1990s involving Calcium Hypochlorite, The International Group of P&I Clubs commissioned full-scale tests on the package sizes of this cargo, which are routinely shipped. The results were such that experts advising the International Group viewed the prevailing transport requirements for this product group as inadequate and recommended that they be amended. The International Group of P&I Clubs therefore delivered a submission to the February 2000 meeting of the IMO Sub-committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC5), recommending amendments to the IMDG Code transport requirements for calcium hypochlorite. The changes recommended to the IMO were based on the scientific results reflected in the Group circular issued by the IG Clubs in November 1999. After much debate in plenary session at DSC 5 the sub-committee decided to recommend the Maritime Safety Committee to partially amend the rules in the updated version of the IMDG Code (Amendment 30) coming into force 1st January 2001. However, the amendments will not introduce any changes to package sizes for this product. Nor will the amendments to it expressly require stowage of the cargo "Clear of Living Quarters". The Marine Safety Committee (MSC 72) adopted the recommendations of DSC 5 and the entries for calcium hypochlorite (UN Nos. 1748, 2208 and 2880) will be amended in the new version of the code. In addition an MSC Circular (as attached) was issued urging all parties to implement the amended requirements as soon as possible. The International Group of P&I Clubs suppor