A regional train-the-trainer course has taken place in Alexandria, Egypt (1-5 November) focusing on the implementation and enforcement of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
The mandatory IMDG Code covers the maritime transport of dangerous goods in packaged form and sets out in detail the requirements applicable to each individual substance, material or article, covering matters such as packing, container traffic and stowage, with particular reference to the segregation of incompatible substances. This includes measures to support crew and ship safety and for pollution prevention.
Full and effective compliance with the IMDG Code requires investment in the proper qualification and training of maritime personnel - both seafarers and shore-based personnel.
Speaking at the event, IMO's Ivaylo Valev said: "Shipping is an inherently dangerous activity. Ships and those working on board them have to cope with the worst natural elements. Port personnel face challenging work conditions of their own, not least commercial pressures to turn ships around as fast as possible, while the goods and cargoes that are loaded and unloaded have many different characteristics and complexities."
This course was organized in collaboration with Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Transport.
The training included a field visit to the Port of Alexandria, where participants observed inspection and sampling procedures, exchanged good practices, and gained deeper insight into the roles of flag, port, and coastal States. The visit underlined the critical role of national legislation in ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of the IMDG Code.
"IMO's regulatory process does not suffice in itself to ensure enhanced safety and accident prevention: it must be matched by training - the focus of this course," Mr Valev said.
Government officials from maritime and port authorities/agencies attending the training represented Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen - with all 29 participants responsible for national efforts to implement and enforce the IMDG Code. The course fostered regional collaboration and lays the groundwork for a harmonized compliance framework that supports the protection and restoration of the marine environment and the safety of lives and shipping.
