Saudi Arabia: Strict regulations for transporting bulk solid goods and powers for the captain

In a strategic move aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub and enhancing safety standards in its territorial waters, the Public Transport Authority has issued the implementing regulations for the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code (IMSBC). This step aims to regulate maritime transport operations and ensure the highest safety standards and marine environmental protection, in line with international conventions issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

International context and strategic importance

The International Maritime Code for Solid Bulk Cargo is the primary global standard governing the safe transport of this type of cargo, which includes minerals, coal, fertilizers, and other commodities. The Kingdom's implementation of this code comes at a time when the maritime transport sector is experiencing rapid growth, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a link between three continents. Adherence to these standards not only enhances the global ranking of Saudi ports but also directly contributes to protecting vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf from environmental disasters and maritime accidents.

Absolute powers for the ship's captain

The new regulations grant the ship's captain broad and unprecedented powers, designating him as the primary and ultimate authority responsible for the safety of the voyage. Under these regulations, the captain possesses "absolute authority" to refuse to load any cargo he deems a threat to life or non-compliant with technical standards, without being subject to any commercial pressures. The regulations also require shippers to provide the captain with accurate and detailed information before loading operations commence, with the shipper bearing full legal responsibility for any inaccurate information that could lead to accidents.

Technical controls to prevent disasters

The regulations focused specifically on the technical aspects that have long been a cause of global maritime accidents, most notably:

• Liquefaction risk: The regulation requires the submission of recent laboratory certificates, no more than seven days old, for goods that are liquefiable (the solid shipment turns into a liquid due to humidity and vibration), to ensure that the humidity does not exceed the safe transport limit.
• Ship stability: It imposed a very precise distribution of loads to prevent excessive stresses on the ship's structure, especially when transporting high-density cargo, while requiring ships to level cargo surfaces to reduce the likelihood of displacement during sailing.

Environmental safety and handling of hazardous materials

As part of its efforts to protect the marine environment, the regulations strictly prohibit the transport of bulk solid waste without prior approval from the National Waste Management Center, and require the documentation of all waste movement until its final disposal. For vessels exceeding 500 tons, the authority mandates the issuance of an official compliance certificate for the transport of hazardous goods and the provision of written emergency instructions for immediate response to any leak or fire.

The regulations also stressed the separation of chemically incompatible goods in separate holds to avoid dangerous reactions, and the provision of personal protective equipment and gas detectors when dealing with materials that may emit toxic gases or cause corrosion, reflecting the comprehensiveness of the regulation and its concern for the safety of maritime crews and the environment alike.