RS participates in ESPH 32
The 32nd session of the Technical Group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals (ESPH 32) was held at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from 12 to 16 October 2026.
Operating under the auspices of the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), the Technical Group reviews, evaluates and classifies chemical substances submitted by Member States to determine their categorisation and carriage requirements.
The session brought together delegates from 30 IMO Member States, alongside representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. Pavel Dorokhov, Senior Engineer-Surveyor, of the RS Astrakhan Branch, attended as part of the Russian delegation.
During ESPH 32, participants agreed on the assessment results and carriage requirements for a number of chemicals transported in bulk, as well as amendments to relevant IMO instruments.
Key outcomes included the approval of an extensive package of amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), covering the inclusion of new chemical substances and the assignment of acute inhalation toxicity criteria.
The session also made significant progress in developing amendments to the IMO Guidelines for the Provisional Assessment of Liquid Substances Transported in Bulk (MEPC.1/Circ.512/Rev.1). The proposed changes aim to update assessment procedures for liquid substances, drawing on the experience gained by the ESPH in recent years.
Additional information:
Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.
Today, RS is actively expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys, management system certification and recognition of manufacturers. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.
