Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) issued Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers in collaboration with the International P&I Group of P&I Clubs and TT Club. The CINS Charcoal Guidelines were developed in response to the need to ensure the safe carriage of charcoal by sea. Charcoal is classified 4.2 (substances liable to spontaneous combustion) in the IMDG Code, meaning that it can self-heat and ignite in contact with air. This poses a significant fire risk during carriage. A review of incident records by CINS members revealed at least 68 fire incidents onboard ships between 2015 and 2022, all involving consignments of Charcoal that were produced to be a used as a fuel intended for burning. Most of these incidents arose from charcoal shipments that were misdeclared, highlighting the importance of proper classification, declaration, and handling of charcoal cargo. These guidelines specifically focus on charcoal classified under UN1361 and require proper declaration and management as dangerous goods in order to improve safety for all those involved in its transportation.