Smoke is emerging from a container on deck. The container is declared as UN 1381 — White Phosphorus. What is your immediate response?

A. FIRE IN CONTAINER WITH UN 1381 — WHITE PHOSPHORUS: UN 1381 (White Phosphorus, dry or in water): Class 4.2 — Spontaneously Combustible Substances. Packing Group I (highest danger). EXTREME HAZARD: white phosphorus ignites spontaneously in air and burns at approximately 1300°C producing dense white phosphorus pentoxide smoke. The smoke is extremely toxic. Contact with skin causes deep, progressive burns that reignite on exposure to air. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: (1) CALL MASTER — EMERGENCY. Sound fire alarm; (2) DO NOT USE WATER on white phosphorus fire — water reacts violently and spreads burning material; (3) PERSONNEL EVACUATION: clear all personnel from the area immediately — evacuate the entire deck; DO NOT attempt to fight this fire without full protective equipment — the fumes are lethal; (4) BOUNDARY COOLING: cool adjacent containers and structure using water from a safe distance — prevent fire spread; (5) CLOSE VENTILATION: reduce oxygen to the container if possible; (6) EMS GUIDE: consult EMS for UN 1381 — F-G (fire) and S-P (spillage) — specific procedures for spontaneously combustible materials; (7) MAYDAY/PAN PAN: if fire is out of control, alert coastguard; (8) MUSTER CREW: prepare to abandon ship; (9) DO NOT OPEN CONTAINER: opening the container gives oxygen to the fire.

B. White phosphorus fires should be attacked immediately with all available CO2 extinguishers before the fire spreads. Speed of attack is critical for container fires.

C. Apply seawater directly into the container through any available gap — white phosphorus is stored in water and additional water is the correct extinguishing agent.

D. Isolate the affected container by jettisoning it overboard. This eliminates the fire risk and removes the burning material from the vessel safely.

A. UN 1203 — MOTOR SPIRIT (PETROL/GASOLINE): UN 1203 is Class 3 — Flammable Liquids. Packing Group II (medium danger). Proper shipping name: MOTOR SPIRIT or PETROL. WHAT THE OOW MUST KNOW: (1) CLASS 3 STOWAGE: "on deck or under deck" — typically stowed on deck or in a cargo space with mechanical ventilation; must not be stowed in accommodation spaces or engine room; (2) SEGREGATION: Class 3 must be segregated from: Class 1 (explosives) — "separated from"; Classes 2.1 (flammable gas), 4.1, 4.3 — "away from"; ignition sources; (3) IMDG CODE SPECIAL PROVISION: check the IMDG individual schedule for UN 1203 for special provisions, limited quantities, emergency procedures; (4) FLASHPOINT: motor spirit has a flashpoint below 23°C — extremely flammable vapour at normal temperatures; (5) BCSF (BC Safety of Flammable): vapour can accumulate in enclosed spaces — ventilation essential; (6) EMS (EMERGENCY SCHEDULES): EMS for UN 1203 provides fire and spillage procedures — F-E (fire) and S-E (spillage). These must be available on board; (7) DANGEROUS GOODS DECLARATION: the shipper must provide a Dangerous Goods Declaration. The OOW must check it is received and matches the container marking; (8) CONTAINER TRANSPORT DOCUMENT: all Class 3 containers must be correctly marked, labelled, and placarded (Class 3 flame label).

B. UN 1203 is a Class 8 corrosive liquid. It must be stowed away from foodstuffs and cannot be loaded in the same hold as Class 3 materials.

C. UN numbers are only required for air cargo. For sea transport, the cargo class number (e.g., "Class 3") is sufficient and UN numbers need not be declared.

D. Class 3 flammable liquids can be stowed in any cargo hold provided they are in sealed containers. No special ventilation or segregation requirements apply.

A. SOLAS VGM REQUIREMENT — MANDATORY CONTAINER WEIGHT VERIFICATION: SOLAS VI/2 Amendment (in force July 2016): it is PROHIBITED to load a packed container onto a vessel unless a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) has been provided by the shipper. THE VGM MUST BE: (1) Verified by the shipper (not estimated) — either by: METHOD 1: weighing the packed container; or METHOD 2: weighing all contents and adding tare weight; (2) Submitted to the master or agent before vessel departure; (3) Documented in the Shipping Document or a separate VGM document. OOW / MASTER ACTION IF VGM NOT PROVIDED: (1) The container CANNOT be loaded — SOLAS is absolute on this; (2) Inform the chief officer and master; (3) Container must be kept aside until VGM is provided by the shipper; (4) No exception — the vessel cannot accept the container without VGM regardless of commercial pressure; WHY VGM: misdeclared container weights (understated) have been a major factor in stack collapses and vessel losses. The MSC Napoli (2007) — container weight misdeclarations contributed to structural failure. The Deneb (1998) — fatal accident attributable in part to misdeclared container weights. VGM protects the vessel's stability calculations and cargo securing plans which depend on accurate weights.

B. The VGM is a shipper's administrative requirement only. The vessel can load the container and the master can estimate the weight from the container type for stability purposes.

C. The VGM may be provided up to 24 hours after the container is loaded. For port turnaround purposes, load the container and request VGM before the vessel departs.

D. VGM is only required for containers exceeding 14 tonnes gross weight. Containers below 14 tonnes may be loaded without a VGM under the SOLAS light freight exemption.