From the bottom of our hearts we wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

IDGCA celebrates 15th anniversary in 2016. Despite the relatively young age IDGCA managed to do a lot of good deeds and to establish itself as independent and competent organization. During 15 years we have felt the joy of victory and the bitterness of betrayal, help of friends and envy of useless people. But after going through the fire and water we felt ourselves even stronger and assured of tomorrow. Support of fair competition, a professional approach to any problem, independent judgment, based on knowledge of the law and the right - that's the tool that we will use in the future.

We wish you happiness, health and success. See you again in the New 2016.

IDGCA President Gennady Moshkov

IDGCA General Director Mikhail Ognev

IDGCA Deputy General Director Vladimir Tsikhiseli

The next issue of the "Dangerous Goods and Containers" magazine will be published soon. Contents of the magazine:

• The II Congress of Safety Advisers for the Transport of Dangerous Goods;
• Participation of fleet of "Murmansk Shipping Company" JSC in Arctic projects;
• Road to success;
• Harmonization of Russian and international legislation: security plan and transport safety plan of vessel;
• Efficiency of implementing risk assessment system of safe vessels operation in Joint Stock North Western Shipping Company (NWSC);
• Human factor in the transport sphere – how to solve the problem.

On 9th of December 2015 has ended 48th session of ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) and 30th session of Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Results of work of these sessions will be posted to IDGCA web site.

During 25th to 29th January 2016 in accordance with Agenda will take place 28th session of Joint Meeting of Experts on ADN.

Such decision was made by the court because of the fact that requirements of International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) do not apply to the transportation of dangerous goods in tankers.

Rostransnadzor was a plaintiff with regard to this case and the shipping company which was transporting kerosene in tanker was defendant. Rostransnadzor has set a claim to ship-owner regarding the failure to comply with licensing requirements related to the transport of kerosene in sea tanker. However ship-owner has put in issue at first instance of court, stating that kerosene with UN № 1223 is not a dangerous good in case of its transportation in sea tanker. Specialists which were involved to this issues considered that such decision is at least strange as far as good with UN numbers is a dangerous good independently of the way it is transporting – sea or river. According to the information of Rostransnadzor this court decision will be disputed in the second instance. Experts of "IDGCA" have prepared an opinion on this issue.

JSC "Russian Register", 100% subsidiary company of IDGCA, provides a wide range of survey services. JSC "Russian Register" is one of the few organizations with high level of competence in the field of transport of dangerous goods. Recently, a lot of companies offer issue of declarations for dangerous goods, as well as carrying out inspections and certification of dangerous goods. Appeal to companies which do not have the proper experience and competence can carries a high risks. To competent organizations in the field of transport of dangerous goods can be attributed AO "CNIIMF", LLC "DNIIMF", JSC "Russian Register", JSC "Marine cargo bureau".

JSC "Russian Register" offers to cargo owners, cargo carriers and cargo shippers cooperation in the field of transport of dangerous goods and safety assessment on transport.

IDGCA library has received from London the new English edition of Convention for Safe Containers 1972 (CSC-72) with amendments adopted by resolution MSC.355 (92) entered into force on 1 July 2014.

New CSC edition includes:

• new definitions at the beginning of annexes I and II;
• the introduction of a transitional period for marking containers with restricted stacking capacity;
• amendments to align all physical dimensions and units to the SI system Etc.

IDGCA provides to its partners the methodological support in purchasing of up-to-date international documents and consultations on its application.

In October in London took place the second meeting of the Informal working group on the inspection and certification of tanks for storage and transportation of dangerous goods. As a result of this work, proposals for amendment of the requirements to scope of tank inspection, including requirements to non-destructive testing, were developed. IDGCA General Director Mikhail Ognev has participated in the work of group as an expert.

Meeting took place in the Ministry of transport of Great Britain. Experts were also invited to head department of Lloyds Register in London where they had a look at the work of classification society related to the certification of tanks.

Next meeting of the Informal working group on the inspection and certification of tanks will take place from 11 to 13 January 2016.

Yevgeny Ditrikh, ex-head of the Federal Service for Transport Supervision (Rostransnadzor) is appointed the First Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation per the Government Executive Order of the Russian Federation №2039-р dated 12 October 2015.

Sergei Saritsky is appointed Acting Head of the Rostransnadzor (Order of Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation №.1038/К dated 14 October 2015).

New version of IDGCA Charter, which was approved on the reporting back meeting of IDGCA members, has received approval and successfully registered in Ministry of Justice of Russian Federation along with IDGCA symbol. New Charter is prescribed two types of membership – with decisive vote and consultative vote. It will allow to expand membership and simplify the procedure of joining to IDGCA.

From 27 to 28 October 2014 will take place seminar concentrated on the issues related to the transportation of gases and other dangerous goods in tanks. Among the companies which are already confirmed their attendance – CJSC "Gazpromneft-Terminal", PJSC "Transcontainer", PJSC "Nizhnekamskneftekhim", PJSC "Rail Freight Logistics", LLC "Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company", LLC "Gazpromneft Shipping" etc.

During the training participants will have the opportunity to exchange their views on essential problems related to the transportation of gases and other dangerous goods in vessels, on the basis of which will be developed the concept of the XIII International Conference "Multimodal transportation of dangerous goods" which take place in 2016.

27-28 October 2015, in Saint-Petersburg will take place seminar "Multimodal transportation of gases", organized by International Dangerous Goods and Containers Association. Seminar deals to the transportation of gases and other dangerous goods in tank-containers and other transport equipment. Participants of the seminar will be informed about the results of the second meeting of Informal working group of UN experts on inspection and certification of tanks which took place during 12-14 October, 2015 in London.

Venue for seminar will be – International Staff Training Center, St.Petersburg St.Petersburgskoe highway, 47A.

More information about seminar – (812) 421-54-51, (812) 740-20-19, +7 (905) 222-51-38, info@idgca.ru, istc@idgca.org.

XIII International Conference "Multimodal transport of dangerous goods" will be held in May, 2016.

From 9 to 13 November 2015 in Geneva will take place the 99th session of Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in accordance to the Agenda. In the course of meeting, among others, will be discussed the proposals related to the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as fuel for vehicles carrying dangerous goods.

Scheduled meeting of Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods will take place in Geneva during November, 30 to December, 9. At the session will be presented Report of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods on its 47th session and Report of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals on its 29th session. Following issues are also on the Agenda:

• Transport of toxic metal powders;
• Inserting of new definitions in section 1.2.1 of the UN Model Regulations;
• US and HSL Flash Compositions Tests;
• Security provisions to Explosives.

From 14 to 18 September 2015 in London took place the 2nd session of IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC-2). Along with other were reviewed and approved the following documents:

• draft circular of the Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) on the revised guidance on the use of existing IMO type portable tanks and road tankers for the transport of dangerous goods;
• final version of the draft checklist for the identification of the companies which are providing services related to the work with cargo transport units;
• draft circular of CCC regarding to the potential risk during transportation of bauxite which are inclined to the liquefaction. This document set out the requirements for the safety of sea transportation of this category of goods in bulk.

Decision of Subcommittee CCC and related documents will be submitted to the 96th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which will be held from 11 to 20 May 2016.

Next...

From 15 to 25 September 2015, in Geneva, will take place regular session of RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting in accordance with Provisional agenda.

As an informal document will be presented the report of the 1st meeting of Informal working group on the inspection and certification of tanks. Following questions will be also discussed:

• marriage of tanks, battery-wagons / battery vehicles and MEGC following the expiry of deadlines for periodic and intermediate inspections;
• labels and marks;
• marking of cargo transport units etc.

Biography

Ex-president of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin was nominated for a seat in the Federation Council by the acting governor of Kaliningrad region.

International Dangerous Goods & Containers Association (IDGCA) in cooperation with Non-state Private Institution of Additional Professional Education "International Staff Training Centre" (ISTC) conducts XIII International Conference "Multimodal transport of dangerous goods" on 27-28 October, 2015. The main theme of the conference – Multimodal transportation of gases. Conference is planned to be held in hotel Crowne Plaza St.Petersburg Airport.

Special focus will be on issues related to multimodal transportation of liquefied gases including cryogenic products, in specialized containers and swap bodies, execution of transport documentation, harmonization of the requirements for the carriage on different modes of transport, training of personnel involved in transportation process and in ensuring safety of transportation as well as inspection.

IDGCA invites the chiefs and specialists of Russian and foreign companies, representatives of ministries, departments and agencies of supervision and control.

Applications are accepted by e-mail - istc@idgca.org and info@idgca.ru.

For detailed information about the conference and the conditions of participation, please call +7 (812) 421-54-51, +7 (812) 421-57-17, +7 (812) 740-20-19.

Provisional program of XII International conference "Multimodal transport of dangerous goods"

International Staff Training Center (ISTC) has carried out seminars for the employees of Dragon Oil Company (Turkmenistan) from 22 to 27 July, 2015 in Hazar (Turkmenistan). These seminars were conducted within the requirements of International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and other international regulatory documents related to the transportation of dangerous goods. According to the results of seminars 16 of the specialists were submitted for the attestation in IDGCA as safety advisors (consultants) in dangerous goods.

"Dragon Oil" Ltd is the biggest international structure which is engaged into the sphere of exploration & production of oil and gas. A large scope of work of the company conducts in Cheleken zone which is located on the shelf of Turkmenistan and includes 2 fields: oil field "Dzheitune" and gas field "Dzhygalybek".

From 24 to 28 August, 2015 the 27th session of ADN Safety Committee will take place in Geneva. The following issues are on the agenda - obligations of the loader and unloader, training and examination of experts, chapter 8.2, technical vessel certificate and others.

Also, ADN Safety Committee is invited to consider the report of the third meeting of the informal working group on degassing of cargo tanks.

Agenda for 27th session

The Informal working group of the UN experts on the inspection and certification of the dangerous goods transportation in tanks RID, ADR, ADN has scheduled to meet again in London from 12 to 14 October 2015 when it is proposed that it will:

• Continue its discussions and where possible draw conclusions;
• Hear customer experience of issuing certificates through a central database;
• Review the returns from a questionnaire to be drawn-up and circulated to members of the informal working group in a pilot exercise that seeks to obtain information on what is known about the activities of appointed inspection bodies and the perceived merit of possible confidence building measures;
• Propose a set of principles that would boost confidence in the inspection and certification of tanks thereby promoting mutual recognition, including consideration of appointed inspection bodies being listed by the secretariats of UNECE and OTIF;
• Propose specific amendments to Chapters 1.8 and 6.8 for consideration by the Joint Meeting in March 2016.

NVG Global proposes ISO the development of a new document that will cover the operational requirements for Cryogenic LNG Tanks for use as on-board fuel tanks for automotive vehicles.

ISO 12991:2012 specifies the construction and test requirements for refillable fuel tanks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) used in vehicles. There is currently no standard for the operational requirements for such tanks, including procedures such as putting into service, filling, maintenance and periodic inspection.

New IS will cover these issues, in order to ensure the safety provided during the design and fabrication of the LNG tanks in industry and exploitation by transit and fuel companies.

Current Secretary-General of ISO Mr. Rob Steele has announced his departure from his position as from July, 31, 2015.

Mr. Kevin McKinley (current ISO Deputy Secretary-General) has been appointed to the position of Acting Secretary-General.

Long debates and discussions about the selection of a new Secretary-General of IMO are over. In connection with the termination of office of the current Secretary-General of IMO Koji Sekimizu there were 5 candidates to the position of Secretary-General:

• Kingdom of Denmark - Mr. Andreas Nordseth,
• Republic of Kenya - Mr. Juvenal Shiundu,
• Republic of Cyprus - Mr. Andreas Chrysostomou,
• Republic of Korea - Mr. Ki-tack Lim,
• Republic of the Philippines - Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia Jr.,
• Russian Federation - Mr. Vitaly Klyuev.

According to the regulations of elections to the post of Secretary-General, each candidate had to provide a program of IMO development for its term of office. Thus, the candidate of the Russian Federation Vitaly Klyuev, proposed to introduce in the IMO quality management system.

Despite the accomplishments of all candidates, at the 114th session of IMO Council the representative of Republic of Korea Mr. Ki-tack Lim has been elected for the position of Secretary General of IMO. The decision of the IMO Council will be presented for approval at the 29th session of the IMO Assembly, which will be held from November 23-December 2, 2015.

"IDGCA" congratulates Mr. Ki-tack Lim with a selection of his candidacy for the post of Secretary General of IMO.

Сapsule biography of Mr. Mr. Ki-tack Lim

International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) was adopted by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) on its 95th session. The MSC adopted the draft amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), along with amendments to make the Code mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

IGF Code contains the provisions for the arrangement, installation, control and monitoring of machinery, equipment and systems using low-flashpoint fuels, for example, LNG. Implementation of these provisions will minimize risks for vessel, ship crew and environment.

The new revised edition of the New edition of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations and Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) came out in English and French.

The 19th edition of the UN Model regulations takes account of all the amendments which were circulated in the Annex I to the Report of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and the 6th revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) takes account of all the amendments which were circulated in the Annex III to the Report of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

From 22 to 26 of June in Geneva take place the 47th session of the ECOSOS Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG).

The meeting agenda includes such issues as:

• review of Chapter 2.1 of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS);
• miscellaneous proposals for amendments to the Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods;
• global harmonization of transport of dangerous goods regulations with the Model Regulations;
• cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);
• miscellaneous.

The 47th session agenda.

From 15 to 16 of June 2015 in London, in the Conference Suite of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills took place the Informal working group of the UN experts on the inspection and certification of the dangerous goods transportation in tanks RID, ADR, ADN. This meeting was organized by the Department for transport of Great Britain.

The meeting agenda included such issues as:

• Improvement of the international rules regarding the inspection organizations;
• Development of the universal inspection procedures;
• Listing of all international inspection organizations.

The UN experts are trying to develop universal standards for inspection commissions and procedures of recondition and tests. Mr. Mikhail Ognev, the general director of the IDGCA, was invited as one of the experts of the Informal working group.

Next meeting will be held in October 2015 in London.

From 3 to 12 of June 2015 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) hold a 95 session of Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). The MSC agenda included such issues as:

• innovations and new technologies in safety of ships,
• adoption of a mandatory safety code for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels;
• consideration of cyber threats to maritime security;
• unsafe mixed migration by sea;
• and ect.

From 22 to 26 of June, 2015 in Saint-Petersburg International Staff Training Center will held special training courses for specialists of oil and gas companies engaged in off-shore cargo handling operations with dangerous goods and containers. Special attention will be given to tank containers specially designed for off-shore usage, as well as to other issues relating to safety and quality of offshore operations with dangerous goods.

From 4 to 7 May, 2015 in Geneva will be held the 98th session of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Economic Commission for Europe Inland Transport Committee. On this session will be discussed such issues as:

• Status of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and related issues;
• Construction and approval of vehicles;
• Tunnel restriction code for environmentally hazardous substances, solid and liquid (UN Nos. 3077 and 3082).

Agenda for the 98th session

On the 114th IMO Council Session (June 29 – July 3, 2015) will be held the election of IMO Secretary-General. The authority of the current Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu expires on December 31, 2015.

For position of IMO Secretary-General represented the candidates from Russian Federation, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Kingdom of Denmark and Republic of Kenya.

March 25-26, 2015 the V International Forum "Transport security" will take place in Saint-Petersburg within the "UNITED RUSSIA" Party Project "Saint-Petersburg – the Sea Capital of Russia". The aim of the Forum is to elaborate effective solutions directed to maintain operational stability of Russian transport system in the context of growing traffic flow and potential terrorist threat. More than 500 people from 40 regions of the Russian Federation and 20 foreign countries are expected to participate. Forum participants will discuss safety problems of passenger transportation and freight traffic which are typical for air, rail road and automobile transport. Master classes from officials will be organized. IDGCA Director General Ognev M.I. will speak on the topic "Safety provision to the multimodal transportation of dangerous goods. Preparing to the transporting of dangerous goods by sea".

IDGCA library has received from London the new editions of sci-tech literature published by International Maritime Organization (IMO):

• IMSBC Code and Supplement, 2013 Edition;
• IMDG Code, 2014 Edition 37-14 (vol 1, 2) and Supplement, 2014 Edition;
• CTUs Workbook, 2001 Edition;
• SOLAS Consolidated Edition, 2014 Edition.

IDGCA provides to its partners the methodological support in purchasing of up-to-date international documents and consultations on its application.

The second meeting of IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communication, Search and Rescue (NCSR) got underway 9 March at IMO headquarters. E-navigation, the modernization of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and proposed changes to shipping lanes to give greater protection to the Great Barrier Reef are among items on a busy agenda. The Sub-Committee is being chaired by Carlos Salgado of Chile.

The owner and operator of LNG carriers Golar LNG Limited and Russia’s gas producer Rosneft Oil Company have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the area of floating liquefaction (FLNG) and transportation of natural gas.

According to this MoU the companies are planing to discuss the opportunities of the using of Golar’s GoFLNG facilities in Latin America and potentially other locations.The parties said that they were targeting signing of two FLNG tolling agreements for projects within Rosneft’s portfolio.

"This memorandum between Golar and Rosneft represents an opportunity for both of companies to clearly align their objectives, combining Golar’s leading midstream LNG credentials (liquefaction, transportation and regasification) and Rosneft’s world class upstream portfolio," the two companies said in a statement. Golar added that its latest strategic move is to extend its business model further upstream by deploying its floating liquefaction technology (GoFLNG). "The objective is to become the industry’s leading integrated midstream LNG services provider, supporting resource owners, gas producers and gas consumers," the company went on to say.

According to the site IMO, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CBE Royal Navy, Maritime Commander, visited the two-week Advanced Maritime Law Enforcement/Training of Trainers course taking place at Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC), in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (23 February to 6 March). The course included training in evidence collection at a simulated crime scene on board a ship. IMO collaboration with NMIOTC to deliver regional training started in 2012 and to date 200 officers from 18 DCoC signatory countries have received training at the Centre. The strength of IMO’s capacity building model for DCoC, will be replicated in West and Central Africa and arrangements are in place for NMIOTC to extend its training support to the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships, and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa.

On 24 February 2015 IMO's Julian Abril and Alper Keceli have attended a bilateral meeting with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), in Brussels. During the meeting both Organizations shared their experiences on implementation of national single window systems and also updated the IMO's maritime single window prototype project. The meeting also discussed the regular updating of the "IMO Compendium of facilitation and electronic business", following agreement in IMO's Facilitation Committee (FAL 39) that the technical maintenance of the compendium would be carried out by WCO and the revised compendium would be subsequently distributed as a joint IMO-WCO publication.

February 26-27, 2015 the VI International Forum "Ecology" took place in Saint-Petersburg within the "UNITED RUSSIA" Party Project "Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital of Russia". The aim of the event is to make important decisions contributing to ecology safety of water resource in Russia. The event is held with the assistance and participation of both chambers of Federal Assembly of the RF, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the RF and other relevant ministries and institutions. The ecology of Caspian Sea, decrease of anthropology effect on water objects is central questions of the forum. The delegates of "IDGCA" also attended the Forum.

On 24-25 February 2015, in London, took place the 6th international LNG Shipping Conference. The questions addressed to the speakers are outlook on the future of LNG supply from the US, Russia, Africa and Australia; the latest technical innovations in engine and containment systems to improve LNG carrier efficiency.

On February 18, 2015 in the port of Ust-Luga at the terminal of company OAO "Novatek" took place a business meeting of the heads of the companies OAO "Novatek" and "IDGCA". During the meeting the issues of cooperation in the sphere of international work, survey activities and the development legal and regulatory documents were discussed.

Since December 15, 2014 entered into force Order № 684 of EMERCOM of Russian Federation from December 8, 2014 "On approval of a set of rules "Urban road tunnels and tunnel type viaducts with a length of the overlapped part not more than 300 meters. Fire safety requirements". Next...

The next joint meeting of Experts on ADN will take place in Geneva during the period from the 27 to the 31 of January, 2015. On the agenda among the others are such issues as interpretation of the Regulations annexed to ADN, explosion protection on tank vessels, questions about the amendments adopted at previous sessions and other.

"IDGCA" also sent to the Sub-Committee its Proposal concerning the use of flexible bulk containers (FBC) by inland waterways.

From 23 to 27 March 2015 in Berne goes the next session of RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting. During the session questions concerning the carriage of pressure receptacles, amendments to the provisions of the section 1.8.3 Safety Adviser in RID/ADR/AND and many others will be discussed.

Provisional agenda of the RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting