Types of cargoes that could be exempted from CO2 fittings, and clarification on the new charcoal shipment rules were among topics discussed by members.
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Our 3rd meeting for 2025 and 7th meeting of the BIMCO Dry Bulk Cargo Network was held on 28 August 2025 focusing on the following topics chosen by the network members:
- Types of cargoes exempted from CO2 fittings
- Charcoal shipments in bulk or bags – clarification on new rules entering into force on 1 January 2026.
Below are some of the takeaways from the meeting
Types of cargoes exempted from CO2 fittings
- From a polling question conducted amongst the members on whether they encountered difficulties on checking whether cargoes required CO2 fittings or not, 21% of the members polled said "yes", while 39% responded with “sometimes” and 39 % “no”
- The regulatory basis for exempting such cargoes was explained as well as what type of cargoes are exempted
- 68% responded with a “No” to a poll question on whether their chartering department is aware of cargoes where CO2 fittings are deemed ineffective whilst 31 % said yes
- Cheshire Incident (August 2017) carrying ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers was revisited highlighting the risks of knowing whether CO2 fittings are required for fighting fires of these cargoes.
Charcoal shipment rules –clarification on new regulations entering into force on 1 January 2026
- Applies only to charcoal shipped in bags under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
- All charcoal shipped under the IMDG Code would now be classified as dangerous goods UN 1361
- No UN N4 test is required
- New special provision (SP) 978 replacing SP 925 and 223
- Charcoal shipped in bulk under the IMSBC Code*: no changes, certification is still required to declare the shipment that it is not class 4.2 cargo.
We will update the full details in our member area on the website. If you are not a member and would like to join, or are from a member company and would like access, please contact our Membership team.
The next meeting
The next online meeting which will be the 8th meeting and last meeting for 2025 is on Thursday 27 November 2025 at 08:00-09.30 UTC. The topics to be discussed at the last meeting would be provided once the Secretariat has liaised with the Chair on the appropriate topics to be chosen for discussion.
Join the network
If you are a BIMCO member you are most welcome to write to Ai Cheng Foo-Nielsen with topics you would like to discuss at one of these meetings.
The BIMCO Dry Bulk Cargo Network’s mission
The network was established with the sole intention of allowing working professionals involved in the shipment of dry bulk cargoes the opportunity to learn from each other. Meetings are thus neither recorded nor minuted, and operate under the Chatham House Rule**.
To enable the network to work progressively, it will be driven by the needs of its members. We encourage members to attend the online meetings regularly, because the more they can get to know each other, the more comfortable they will be sharing knowledge and having friendly discussions in the network. In turn, this will assist their business operations with sea transport of solid bulk cargoes. In addition, members facing any challenges are welcome to send us the same so that they can be raised at the network meetings for a full discussion.
*IMSBC Code – The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code
**When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
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