Hazmat

Hazmat (hazardous materials) is cargo that poses a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment in transport, classified into nine UN classes covering explosives, gases, flammable liquids, oxidizers, toxics, radioactives, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous goods. For sea carriage it is regulated by the IMDG Code, mandatory under SOLAS Chapter VII and MARPOL Annex III, which sets packaging, marking, segregation, and the dangerous goods declaration. US land movements follow 49 CFR Parts 100 to 185. Each substance carries a four-digit UN number and a proper shipping name; terminals apply IMDG segregation tables when planning yard storage and vessel stowage to keep incompatible classes apart.