Carriage of Radioactive Materials: IMDG Class 7 and the INF Code
Class 7 package type, label category, Transport Index and Criticality Safety Index are distinct dimensions; TI appears on Category II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW, not Category I-WHITE.
Operational Explanation
Package design is selected from contents, activity, fissile status and transport conditions: excepted packages, IP-1/2/3, Type A, Type B(U), Type B(M), Type C and relevant qualifications do not form a simple generic scale. Label category is a separate classification.
Regulatory Reference
IMDG Class 7 and IAEA SSR-6: package design, categories, TI and CSI. INF Code: packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive wastes within applicable thresholds and INF classes. Port/transit authorisations follow competent authority and national law.
Scope of Application
Class 7 packages according to contents/activity/fissile status. Category I-WHITE, II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW by radiation levels; TI on II/III-YELLOW, not I-WHITE. CSI and fissile label separately where applicable.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Determine package design and approvals under IMDG/IAEA.
- Determine label category separately.
- Enter contents/activity on the prescribed category labels.
- Enter TI only on Category II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW.
- Handle CSI/fissile label separately where applicable.
- Check INF Certificate and INF class only for cargo within scope; check national port/transit authorisations.
Practical Example
Example: before accepting a cargo of irradiated fuel with an aggregate activity of 1.2 × 106 TBq, the owner checks that the ship's Certificate of Fitness states class INF 2, which covers that figure. They then obtain the flag State authorisation and those of the port States of loading and destination, with prior notification to the respective radiation protection authorities within the deadlines set by national law, and verify the approval of the package design. For the coastal States whose territorial seas the route crosses without calling, no approval is required: the ship must however carry the prescribed documents and observe the applicable precautionary measures, and it must be checked whether mandatory sea lanes are imposed along the route.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Treating package types as a linear scale, requiring TI on every Class 7 label or confusing TI with CSI.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Approval sought from the coastal States crossed in transit | Time spent on requests no regulation provides for, while the prior notifications owed to port States go uncovered | Distinguish the port State from the coastal State of transit: the first may make a call subject to authorisation, the second cannot condition innocent passage |
| Ship's INF class not compared with the aggregate activity of the cargo | Cargo that cannot be loaded, or loaded on a ship not certified for that activity level | Read the INF class on the Certificate of Fitness and compare it with the thresholds in paragraph 1.1.2 before accepting the cargo |
| International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of INF Cargo not carried on board | Missing statutory document, detectable in Port State Control under SOLAS I/19 and XI/4 | Check the certificate's validity and class, and that it is consistent with the periodical surveys and the other SOLAS certificates |
| INF Code design and equipment requirements not checked before accepting the cargo | Late discovery of the ship's non-compliance with the specific requirements | Always check the ship's compliance with the INF Code before accepting a cargo subject to this regime |
| Package type (A, B, IP) determined without considering all the relevant properties of the material (activity, heat, radiation, fissility) | Package not compliant with the robustness level required for the specific material | Always determine the required package type considering all the relevant properties of the radioactive material carried |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Start the flag State and port State authorisations early: they involve several authorities, often including the national radiation protection body, each with its own notification deadlines.
- Do not seek approvals from coastal States of transit: they cannot issue them, and the request signals a misreading of the regime.
- Always check the ship's compliance with the INF Code requirements before accepting a cargo of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level waste.
- Determine the required package type (A, B, IP) considering all the relevant properties of the material, not just the activity level.
Preparation checklist
- Package design determined by contents/activity/fissile status
- Label category distinct from package type
- TI only on II/III-YELLOW
- CSI/fissile label separate
- INF scope and certificate checked
- Port/transit approvals checked against national law
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 31 August 2026 · page fingerprint 3730dae83bf5