Top 100 most frequently transported chemicals

Table 14 shows the top 100 most transported harmful chemicals in the EU ports and coasts In this list, chemicals are ranked in order of amount transported. This list of chemicals was adopted from a report of a the HASREP project. (Cedre, 2005, Risk assessment methodology for the transport of hazardous an harmful substances in the European Union maritime waters. HASREP report on task 2.) Although this list is six or seven years old (2005) and not all information was available, it gives a very good insight into the types of chemicals transported.

The different classification systems discussed in the previous paragraphs are applied this list. In the following paragraph, each classification system will be discussed to identify which of the classifications are most common.

There are two ways of analysing the data of the top 100:

1. By number of substances
2. By the total amount transported

Thus palm oil is only 1 substance in the list (1% of the 100 substances), but it accounts for 19% of the total amount of the top 100 substances transported.

IMDG classes

In Table 11 the number and amount of substances for each IMDG classification are shown.

Table 11 IMDG classes of the top 100 substances

IMDG class		No of substances		Sum of Quantity
2,1		6		1.509.813
2,3		1		1.180.241
3		35		25.691.792
3,1		6		3.185.082
3,2		19		19.772.709
3,3		10		2.734.001
4,1		1		196.741
5,1		1		209.523
6,1		10		1.878.016
8		8		5.388.446
9		1		56.050
		37		15.577.587
Total		100		51.688.209

It appears that the majority of substances are classified as flammable liquids (IMDG class 3) while 35 of the substances belonging to this group represent 50% of the total amount transported.

These substances are sub-divided according to the old IMDG classification, which divided class 3 into 3 subclasses, based on flash point. Thus, substances with classifications 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 have flash points below – 18 °C, 23 °C and 61°C respectively. This information is very helpful because a class 3.3 substance cannot form flammable vapour at normal outdoor temperatures, while classes 3.1 and 3.2 can form a flammable vapour.

6 of the substances are classified as flammable gases of class 2.1.

Overall, however, the probability of a flammable vapour/gas forming from the top 100, is very high while 31 of the top 100 are classified as 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2 and the quantity transported is 47% of the total.

As will be explained in chapter 5 flammability is a hazard to human beings while for the marine environment, we will see that classifications 6.1 (toxic substances) and 8 (corrosive substances) stand out with 10 of the listed substances being toxic and 8 being corrosive which amounts to 14% of the total quantity of the substances in the list.

USCG cargo category

In Table 12 the top 100 substances are listed by cargo category.

Of these we see that 10(%) are alcohols, which account for 25% of the total amount of the top 100 substances transported.

Runners up are the Esthers, which make up 21% of the amount of goods transported while 14% are classified as aromatic hydrocarbons.

Again, 8 paraffins are listed in the top 100, while accounting for only 2% of the goods transported. Yet again, halogenated hydrocarbons are mentioned 6 times, while accounting for only 1% of the goods transported. .

Table 12 USCG cargo classification for the top 100 sutbstances

Cargo Category (USCG)	No. of substances	Total quantity (tonnes)
0. Unassigned cargo's	3	307.708
1. Non oxidizing mineral acids	1	796.737
2. Sulphuric acid	1	766.581
4. Organic acids	5	765.936
5. Caustics	2	3.079.986
6. Ammonia	3	1.859.297
7. Aliphatic amines	1	28.150
9. Aromatic amines	1	359.429
10. Amides	1	18.064
12. Isocyanates	1	68.819
13. Vinyl acetate	1	350.410
14. Acrylates	3	234.570
15. substituted allyls	1	130.000
17. Epichlorohydirn	1	16.875
18. Ketones	4	754.820
19. Aldehydes	2	223.756
20. Alcohols	10	12.898.365
20. Glycols	3	505.812
21. Phenols	1	857.447
30. Olefins	7	3.662.331
31. Parafins	8	928.077
32. Aromatic hydrocarbons	7	7.422.160
34. esthers	9	10.887.938
35. Vinyl halides	1	325.288
36. Halogenated Hydrocarbons	6	360.092
37. Nitriles	2	408.227
41. Ethers	4	2.205.655
42. Nitro compounds	1	281.105
unknown	10	1.184.574
Total	100	51.688.209

Physical behaviour

In Table 13, the physical behaviour of the substances in the top 100 is summarized. For instance, all substances of which the SEBC contains the letter F will behave (amongst other behaviours) as a floater.

Evaporation is apparently the most common behaviour for these 100 substances, but dissolving and floating are also behaviours of large quantities of the substances.

Table 13 SEBC for the top 100 substances

SEBC	No. of substances	Amount (tonnes)	% of total amount
F	31	18.027.128	34,9%
E	34	35.023.991	67,8%
D	55	25.753.697	49,8%
G	9	2.806.982	5,4%
S	10	2.840.499	5,5%

Table 14 Top 100 most frequently transported harmful chemicals in the European ports and coasts