Acceptance Guidance for Charcoal Shipments from Malaysia

Maersk is committed to ensuring the overall safety of maritime transportation. Therefore, we would like to share our latest guidance regarding the acceptance procedures for charcoal shipments from Malaysia. These measures support the safety of our crew at sea and shoreside, as well as the safety of cargo, the environment, vessels, and facilities.

Effective immediately, we will implement a Factory Audit process for charcoal-producing customers in addition to the existing requirements for obtaining loading acceptance to export charcoal with Maersk.

Please find a comprehensive outline of the requirements and additional information pertinent to the matter below:

The local Maersk office will apply for acceptance to load either restaurant or barbecue charcoal from our principals on behalf of the charcoal producer.

Prohibited charcoal includes:

• Dangerous goods
• Wet charcoal
• Charcoal in bulk
• Instant grill charcoal
• Charcoal fines, charcoal dust
• Small particle/fraction charcoal
• Charcoal scrap
• Contaminated charcoal
• Packaging more than 50kg
• Cargo packed in boxes
• Cargo used for waterpipes/shisha/hookah/Nargila or similar
• Any VSA (Partner) vessel
• Active reefer acceptance only with written approval from the Stowage team
• Non-active reefer not allowed
• Exceeding 45 days total transit time, with an exception of 55 days from Walvis Bay, Namibia

The following documentation needs to be supplied to make the application:

1. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

The MSDS must have the same entity (producer) indicated as the Self-Heating Certificate, Weathering Certificate, Shipper's Declaration, and Commercial Invoice.

The MSDS must indicate the use of the charcoal (only one use).

2. Self-Heating Certificate

The Self-Heating Certificate must not be older than six months and must be accompanied by an official accreditation letter from the laboratory with the following details:

• Dated, signed, and stamped on laboratory letterhead with test reference number
• Not older than six months
• Detailed information about the cargo and customer
• Description of the test, duration, and tested cargo size
• 24-hour temperature diagram of oven and cargo temperature
• Conclusion as per IMDG code (SP 925 - A consignment of carbon if it passes the tests for self-heating substances as reflected in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria (see 33.3.1.3.3), and is accompanied by a certificate from a laboratory accredited by the competent authority, stating that the product to be loaded has been correctly sampled by trained staff from that laboratory and that the sample was correctly tested and has passed the test.
3. Accreditation letter of laboratory

Official accreditation letter by the competent authority of the country of origin with the proper date of expiry, signature, stamp, and name of the authorised person who will sign the document.

4. Business Presentation

The Business Presentation should indicate the type of charcoal produced and the intended use. This is submitted only once as part of the initial acceptance procedure.

Company Profile with detailed information about the company, including when it started, type of business, turnover, product information, use of the commodity, production process, etc.

5. Weathering Certificate

This certificate must be issued by the producer of the charcoal and meet the following criteria:

• Dated, signed, and stamped by the shipper (real producer of the cargo) with the name of the person signing the document.
• Detailed information about the weathering process
• Minimum 14 days of weathering before packing into bags
• Container and booking number
6. Vanning Certificate

The Vanning Certificate must be issued by an official and independent Marine Surveyor after a physical inspection of the vanning of the cargo. It must be dated, signed, and stamped by the same.

The Shipper is reminded that any misdeclaration of information shall remain their responsibility.

Criteria to be checked and confirmed:

• Container is packed in accordance with IMDG code and CTU packing guide
• Packings are new, airtight, intact, and suitable for the cargo
• Cargo temperature does not exceed ambient temperature by more than 5°C
• Packaging and interior atmosphere are clean and odourless, with no presence of fumes or smoke
• Sufficient photos:
• Photos of cargo during container stuffing, including a minimum of one photo of the cargo without the outer packing
• Cargo temperature and ambient temperature photographs
• A door shut photograph showing the commodity stuffed inside the container with the container number clearly visible. (In this photo complete container must be visible along with its border and edges and the commodity inside must be clearly visible)
• The photo must be straight and not at an angle.
• Weight of each bag
7. Factory Audit Report

The Factory Audit Report must be generated at the end of the audit by a Maersk-appointed surveyor and forwarded to Maersk.

8. Shipper’s Declaration

Stating the real end user and use of the cargo at the final destination, including the booking number. The declaration must be duly dated, signed, and stamped on the shipper’s letterhead with the name of the authorised person signing the document.

9. Commercial Invoice

Must be on the cargo manufacturer's letterhead with the proper date, signature, stamp, consignee details, and the name of the authorised person signing the document.