• Dangerous goods that are packed in limited quantities and meet the requirements in IMDG Code Chapter 3.4 are subject to reduced requirements.

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code Chapter 3.4 details the conditions that apply to transport of dangerous goods of certain classes packed in limited quantities. Dangerous goods that are packed in limited quantities and meet the requirements in this chapter are subject to reduced requirements.

For each substance in the Dangerous Goods List, the quantity limit for the inner packaging or article is specified in column 7a. The quantity “0” in this column indicates that the entry is not permitted to be transported under the provisions for limited quantities.

Limited quantities: Packing

Dangerous goods must be packed only in inner packagings that are placed in suitable outer packagings. Intermediate packagings may be used. Additional requirements apply to articles of division 1.4, compatibility group S. The use of inner packagings is not necessary for transport of certain articles containing aerosols or gas.

In some cases, shrink-wrapped or stretch-wrapped trays are acceptable as outer packagings for articles or inner packagings containing dangerous goods. Inner packagings that could break or be easily punctured, such as those made of glass, porcelain, stoneware or certain plastics, must be placed in suitable intermediate packagings, and must be designed to meet the construction requirements of the IMDG Code Section 6.1.4. The total gross mass of the package may not exceed 20 kg.

Liquid goods of class 8, packing group II in glass, porcelain, or stoneware inner packagings must be enclosed in a compatible and rigid intermediate packaging.

Limited quantities: Stowage

Dangerous goods packed in limited quantity are allocated stowage category A, which is defined in the IMDG Code Section 7.1.3.2. The other stowage provisions indicated in column 16a of the Dangerous Goods List do not apply.

Limited quantities: Segregation

Different dangerous substances in limited quantities may be packed in the same outer packaging, only if:

• The substances comply with section 7.2.6.1; and
• The segregation provisions of chapter 7.2, including the segregation provisions in column 16b of the Dangerous Goods List, are taken into account. Under certain conditions, notwithstanding the individual provisions specified in the Dangerous Goods List, substances in packing group III within the same class may be packed together.

The segregation provisions of the IMDG Code Chapter 7.2 to 7.7 and the segregation provisions in column 16b of the Dangerous Goods List do not apply for packagings containing dangerous goods in limited quantities or in relation to other dangerous goods. However, articles of division 1.4, compatibility group S must not be stowed in the same compartment, hold, or cargo transport unit with dangerous goods of class 1 of compatibility groups A and L.

Limited quantities: Marking and placarding

Packages containing dangerous goods in limited quantities must bear the mark detailed in the IMDG Code Section 3.4.5.

The minimum dimension per side is 100 mm.

Packages of dangerous goods packed according to Part 3, Chapter 4 of the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air may bear a “Y” in the center of the mark to certify conformity with the provisions (minimum 100 mm per side).

The mark must be:

• Readily visible, legible, and able to withstand open weather exposure; and
• Square-shaped and set at an angle of 45°.

The top and bottom portions and the surrounding line must be black. The center area must be white or a suitable contrasting background. Minimum dimensions apply, and all features must be in proportion. If the size of the package necessitates, the outer dimensions may be reduced to not less than 50 mm × 50 mm as long as the mark remains clearly visible.

Limited quantities: Multimodal recognition of marks

Packages containing dangerous goods bearing the “Y” mark for transport by air, with or without the additional labels and marks for air transport, meet the marking requirements and need not bear the mark without the “Y”.

Packages containing dangerous goods in limited quantities bearing the limited quantities mark and conforming with the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, including all necessary marks and labels specified in parts 5 and 6, meet the IMDG Code requirements for limited quantities.

When packages containing dangerous goods packed in limited quantities are placed in an overpack or in a unit load, the overpack or the unit load must be marked with the limited quantity mark unless the marks representative of all dangerous goods in the overpack or the unit load are visible. In addition, an overpack must be marked with the word “OVERPACK” unless required marks representative of all dangerous goods in the overpack are visible. The lettering of the “OVERPACK” mark must be at least 12 mm high. Other provisions for overpacks and unit loads apply if other dangerous goods not packed in limited quantities are contained in the overpack or in a unit load.

Limited quantities: Placarding and marking of cargo transport units

Cargo transport units containing dangerous goods packed in limited quantities with no other dangerous goods must not be placarded nor marked according to the marking requirements for dangerous goods. Instead, they must be marked on the exterior with the mark in the IMDG Code Section 3.4.5.5.4.

Cargo transport units containing dangerous goods and dangerous goods packed in limited quantities must be placarded and marked according to the provisions that apply to the dangerous goods that are not packed in limited quantities. However, if no placard or mark is required for the dangerous goods not packed in limited quantities, the cargo transport units must be marked with the mark in IMDG Code Section 3.4.5.5.4.

The mark must be readily visible, legible, and still be identifiable on cargo transport units surviving at least three months’ immersion in the sea. The mark must be at least 250 mm × 250 mm and displayed in locations specified in IMDG Code Section 5.3.1.1.4.1.

Limited quantities: Documentation

In addition to the documentation requirements in chapter 5.4, the words “limited quantity” or “LTD QTY” must be included on the dangerous goods transport document, along with the description of the shipment