Dangerous cargo

APM Terminals Panama provides the following guidelines and restrictions for handling IMO‑classified dangerous goods at the Port of Balboa to support safe and compliant terminal operations.

These procedures follow the standards established under the IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, which regulates the safe transport and handling of hazardous materials.

IMO classes 1.1, 1.2 y 1.3

Goods classified under IMO classes 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are subject to the following restrictions:

  1. Local loading and discharging operations are permitted only if it is the first movement of the operation, and the merchandise is removed immediately from the port area.
  2. Dangerous goods in transit are allowed only if the container is kept in a vessel’s hold where no operations are performed.

For IMO classes 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, the shipping line must receive prior approval from the Commercial Department in the Customer Service section. Please notify the arrival of this type of merchandise in the port and surrounding areas 48 hours in advance by contacting CustomerService@APMTerminalsBalboa.com.

IMO class 6.2

IMO class 6.2 cargo is not accepted under any circumstances.

IMO class 7

IMO class 7 cargo is accepted only for transit, provided it remains in the vessel’s hold where no operations are performed.

Considerations

All units containing dangerous goods must have the corresponding labels, regardless of their category. Units arriving without proper labels will be labeled by the terminal, and the operation will be invoiced to the line owning the container.

Please provide the reasons for requesting the removal of any dangerous goods labels, when applicable. Containers displaying a dangerous goods label will be handled in accordance with such labeling, regardless of their actual cargo.

As part of our special cargo handling procedures, the following notifications are required:

  1. The shipping line must report, 24 hours prior to ship arrival, the amount of dangerous cargo arriving for discharge or loading.
  2. The shipping line must submit the DG Manifest for each container scheduled for discharge within 24 hours before ship operations.
  3. Dangerous cargo may remain at the terminal for up to 7 days.

This information should be sent to Planning@APMTerminalsBalboa.com and HSE@APMTerminalsBalboa.com.

The shipping line that owns the container is responsible for all applicable charges in the event of a contingency within the terminal. It must provide all requested cargo-handling information and coordinate cleaning and transfers if necessary.

IMO Cargo Classification and Restrictions

 

IMO Class Load / Discharge In Transit Transshipment
 1.1 Accepted with Restrictions  Accepted with Restrictions Not Accepted
 1.2 Accepted with Restrictions Accepted with Restrictions Not Accepted
 1.3 Accepted with Restrictions Accepted with Restrictions Not Accepted
 1.4 Accepted  Accepted Accepted
 1.5 Accepted 
 Accepted   Accepted 
 1.6 Accepted 
 Accepted  Accepted 
 2.1 Accepted   Accepted   Accepted  
 2.2 Accepted
 Accepted Accepted
 2.3 Accepted
 Accepted Accepted
 3. Accepted
 Accepted Accepted
 4.1 Accepted Accepted Accepted
 4.2 Accepted  Accepted  Accepted 
 4.3  Accepted  Accepted   Accepted  
 5.1  Accepted Accepted  Accepted  
 5.2 Accepted Accepted   Accepted  
 6.1 Accepted Accepted  Accepted  
 6.2 Not Accepted  Not Accepted  Not Accepted
 7 Not Accepted  Accepted with Restrictions  Not Accepted  
 8 Accepted  Accepted
 Accepted
 9 Accepted  Accepted
 Accepted 

 

IMO class definitions

IMO classes mentioned above refer to the following:

  • IMO Class 1.1 — Explosives (mass explosion hazard)
    Substances and articles with a mass explosion hazard.
  • IMO Class 1.2 — Explosives (projection hazard)
    Substances and articles with a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
  • IMO Class 1.3 — Explosives (fire hazard)
    Substances and articles with a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or minor projection hazard (or both).
  • IMO Class 6.2 — Infectious substances
    Materials known or reasonably expected to contain pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.).
  • IMO Class 7 — Radioactive material
    Materials containing radionuclides with activity concentrations and total activity exceeding specified limits.