• Hazmat incidents that occur during transportation must be reported, with additional reporting requirements for vessel carriers.

Each person in physical possession of a hazardous material must report a hazardous materials incident in writing, by phone, or both.

Two important distinctions should be made:

• First, hazardous materials incidents will not necessarily involve accidents; a hazmat incident can happen without an accident occurring. Accident reporting requirements are regulated by each mode of transport and may involve incidents.
• Second, a hazardous materials incident must occur during transportation to be reportable. Transportation includes loading, unloading and temporary storage.

General reporting requirements are in effect for all modes of transport, including air, rail, vessel, and highway. In addition, specific additional requirements govern each mode of transport.

Special requirements for vessel carriers

Carriers by vessel are subject to specific additional requirements when accidents occur on vessel and hazardous materials are involved.

When an accident involves hazardous materials and endangers the safety of the vessel, passengers, or crew, the “master” of the vessel must adopt procedures to achieve maximum safety for all concerned. If the accident results in damaged packages of hazardous materials, or results in the emergency use of packagings not authorized under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), these packages may not be offered to any forwarding carrier for continued transportation. The master must notify the nearest Captain of the Port of the U.S. Coast Guard for further instructions on the disposition of such packages.

Whenever a fire occurs or another hazardous condition exists on board a vessel carrying hazardous materials, the master must notify the nearest Captain of the Port as soon as possible and comply with instructions received.

If a package, freight container, portable tank, or highway or rail vehicle containing a hazardous material is jettisoned or lost, the master must notify the nearest Captain of the Port as soon as possible and provide the location, quantity, and type of material lost.