LESSON 21

TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS CARGOES BY SEA

Words and Word Combinations

dangerous опасный peril опасность, риск harm вред, ущерб

property свойство, качество

tо work out вырабатывать, разрабатывать to differ различаться, отличаться chemicals химикаты, химические вещества

United Nations Organization Организация Объединенных Наций (ООН)

to face сталкиваться (с чём-л.), стоять лицом

Межправительственная морская организация lo charge with поручать, вверять

to elaborate тщательно разработать unified унифицированный, объединенный version версия, вариант

domestic внутренний, домашний explosives взрывчатые вещества compressed сжатый, спрессованный liquified сжиженный

dissolved растворенный

inflammable легко воспламеняющийся, горючий liquids жидкости

solids твердые тела

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oxidizing окисляющий substance вещество poisonous ядовитый

corrosive едкий, разъедающий; едкое, разъедающее вещество miscellaneous разнообразный, смешанный

provisions положения, условия, постановления to segregate отделять, выделять, изолировать incompatible несовместимый

detailed подробный

to label наклеивать ярлык

preventive предупредительный, профилактический explosion взрыв

thoroughly тщательно

to ascertain удостовериться, убедиться to present предоставлять

to foresee предвидеть, предусмотреть precaution предосторожность

to miss не хватать reasonable разумный

aluminium phosphide фосфид алюминия drum барабан, цилиндр

to list вносить в список carbon disulphide сероуглерод

can-hook бочечный строп с храпцами barrel hook бочечный строп с храпцами snotter строп с коушем

to rely полагаться

tarpaulin смоленая парусина, брезент cushion прокладка, подушка

to bum? ударяться, стукаться

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to prescribe предписывать complicated сложный

to assign назначать, определять convoy караван (судов)

Expressions

to take measures принимать меры that's it вот именно

it's quite reasonable вполне разумно

Just a minute! Одну минуточку! (восклицание) It's one thing. Это с одной стороны.

the main point is that главное в том, что at all совсем, вовсе

in the mean time тем временем; между тем some time later немного позже

ship-shape в полном порядке; «морской порядок»

That's what I've got from the telex. Это то, что я понял из телекса.

TEXT

The transportation of dangerous goods has always been a serious problem, because it can bring peril to people's life. It can cause some material damage to transport means and to other cargoes, to say nothing of the harm to environment.

For many years people in different countries have been studying the properties of these dangerous goods and trying to work out special regulations for their safe carriage. Before the Second World War some of the countries had worked out their own regulations. These regulations differed from each other and were not unified.

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After the Second World War the volume of transporting dangerous goods and chemicals has considerably grown up due to the increased use of them both in industry and agriculture. In 1956 the United Nations Organization was faced with this problem and it formed a special Committee of Experts to consider the international aspect of transporting dangerous goods both by sea and land.

In 1960 the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea charged IMCO* with an important task to elaborate a unified system of carrying dangerous goods by sea. Thus a special International Code was worked out, approved and recommended to all the governments at the IMCG's Assembly.

This International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code was published in four volumes. A Russian version of this Code has been recently published in three volumes for domestic use. It is named "Regulations for Carrying Dangerous Goods by Sea", and it contains an annex called "Medical First Aid Guide".

In accordance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code all the dangerous goods have been divided into 9 classes, namely:

Class 1 — Explosives,

Class 2 — Gases: compressed, liquified or dissolved under pressure, Class 3 — Inflammable Liquids,

Class 4 — Inflammable Solids,

Class 5 — Oxidizing Substances,

Class 6 — Poisonous (toxic) Substances, Class 7 — Radioactive Substances, Class 8 — Corrosives,

Class 9 — Miscellaneous dangerous substances.

Special recommendations and provisions are given in this Code for each class of the goods.

Instructions for stowing these goods and segregating them from other cargoes are also given in this Code, so far as these goods may be incompatible with certain substances.

* IMCO Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization nowadays called IMO.

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Detailed information is given in this Code with regard to properties, packing, labelling, stowage and carriage of these goods, separately for each class.

Much attention is paid to providing appropriate fire-fighting equipment and recommendations are given as to what preventive measures should be taken to avoid explosion or fire aboard.

When receiving these goods aboard the ship the Master and Cargo Officer should thoroughly ascertain and consider what danger may these goods present. They should carefully check whether these goods are properly packed and marked and should foresee what special precautions are required for safe handling and stowage of them.

DIALOGUES 1

AGENT. I say, Captain, we've got a telex from your shipowners asking us to help you in taking aboard some dangerous goods.

CAPTAIN. Yes, I know of the fact, but I'm still missing some details. They are supposed to be settled on the spot.

AGENT. Yes, that's it. That's what I've got from my telex too. I haven't intentionally brought with me the shippers' representative here, because I wanted first to have a preliminary talk with you.

CAPTAIN. It's quite reasonable, thank you. What kind of goods are they going to ship?

AGENT. Well, it's aluminium phosphide, in metal drums, something about 200 drums.

CAPTAIN. Wait a moment, let me consult the Code. I want to see whether this substance is listed there. Oh, yes, there it is. Class No. 6.1. May be carried under deck. What else are they going to ship?

AGENT. The other cargo is Carbon Disulphide, about the same quantity. CAPTAIN. Just a minute. I'll try to find it in the Code. Oh, here it is. You

see, this substance is Class 3.1. The maximum quantity to be carried on any ship is

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only 500 kilos. It's one thing. But the main point is that we can't take it at all, because this substance is incompatible with the other goods we've got aboard the ship.

AGENT. I see, Captain, you are quite an expert in this line. I think I can bring the shippers' representative here so that you might discuss with him all the particulars you need. In the mean time, couldn't I be helpful to you in some other respect?

CAPTAIN. Oh, yes, certainly. You see, so far as we shall have to deal with these drums of aluminium phosphide we shall need some 35-40 can-hooks or barrel hooks to handle the cargo. Perhaps we may need some 20-25 snotters too. Can you supply us with these things?

AGENT. Of course, we can. It's no problem here. Anything else that I can do for you?

CAPTAIN. Yes, sir. I would like you to check very carefully all the shipping documents and certificates relating to this shipment.

AGENT. All right, sir. I'll do it and let you know the results some time later. You may rely on me.

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CAPTAIN. Have you checked the proper condition of the cargo? SURVEYOR. Yes, sir, everything is ship-shape, you may start discharging. CAPTAIN. So, we shall. But we need some tarpaulins to cover the hatch

comings. According to the remark in the Bill of Lading the tarpaulins should be supplied by the consignees.

SURVEYOR. What will you need tarpaulins for?

CAPTAIN. They will serve as a kind of cushion to prevent bumping of barrels and drums against hatch comings. This precaution is prescribed by the Regulations.

SURVEYOR. Now I see. I'll try to make the consignees to supply the tarpaulins as soon as possible.

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