Classification of dangerous cargoes.

All the dangerous cargoes included in the Rules of sea transportation of dangerous cargoes, are broken into nine classes depending on a degree and character of their danger.

Class 1. Explosives and items, equipped with it capable at corresponding influence on them to give explosion. Detonators, an ammunition, an explosive and explosives of industrial purpose concern to a class 1.

Class 2. Gases transported under pressure in special tanks predesignated for such pressure. For each gas the certain norm of filling of a cylinder in kgs of gas per litre of capacity of a cylinder is established. It could be compressed, liquified or dissolved under pressure gases.

Class 3. Inflammable liquids, mixes of liquids or liquids containing solid substances in a solution or suspension (paints, varnishes, polishes), excluding substances which are subsumed to other classes due to it's properties. Substances with temperature above +61oС in the closed tanks and +65oС and more in the open tanks are not concerned to this class.

Class 4. Substances which are capable to light up during transportation as a result of friction, absorption of a moisture, spontaneous chemical transformations, and also as a result of heating from external sources of heat; substances which can easily be ignited and burn are also concerned. Substances classified as explosive are not concerned to this class.

Class 5. Substances easily allocating oxygen that promotes burning and are increased with intensity of a fire. Many substances of this class in a mix with other substances are capable to cause spontaneous ignition and explosion.

Class 6. Substances which as a result of casual handling during transportation can be the reason of a poisoning or infection of people and animals.

Class 7. Radioactive substances with a specific radio-activity more than 0.002 mcCi/gr, and also any products containing such substances.

Class 8. Caustic and corrosion substances which can cause damage of a leather of mucous membranes of eyes and respiratory ways. These substances can cause corrosion of vehicles and the reloading equipment, and also can cause a fire at interaction with some materials. Steams, dust and gases of many substances of 8-th class exhibit poisonous properties and can cause a poisoning when hit inside.

Class 9. The substances which have been not included in one the previous classes, but which have other dangerous properties causing application to them of position of IMO rules.