In-Transit Fumigation
Brief Tutoring Plan for Shipping Companies
In transit fumigation
Fumigation treatments on cereals and by products in transit are carried out in order to avoid the proliferation of different insect
plagues that may already be in the cargo at the time of loading; budding the eggs during the trip or that may have been present
in the vessel’s hold prior to loading. Many cereals and by products importer countries require the cargoes to arrive fumigated in
transit.
Today, phosphine is the mostly used fumigant in the world due to its non residual characteristic. In some parts of the world,
Methile Bromide is used, as well, but is being banned progressively.
Different kinds of systems
Standard system
It consists in the application of tablets or sleeves by means of a
pipe system at a depth of 2 meters inside de cereal or byproduct
mass. This system is the most widely used these days. The gas
(Phosphine), once it is released, is distributed within the space
between the grains and descends in the hold to the bottom.
This distribution is slow and not completely uniform. Besides, in
the case of flour and pellets it is nearly impossible for the gas to
reach the bottom of the hold which does not ensure 100%
effective-ness in case the cargo is infested.
J-SYSTEM - Recirculation:
This system consists in placing a punctured plastic tube reaching
the bottom of the hold before loading the cereal. Once loading is
completed, Phostoxin tablets or sleeves are probed in the grain
mass and set up with a recirculation device specially designed to
absorb the released gas and inject it throughout the cargo by
means of the tube, resulting in the perfect distribution of the gas. It
is 100% effective (it increases the time the insect /egg is exposed to
the gas and reaches places where the cargo is compacted due to
humidity or any other problems).
Phosphine products’ presentations
• Tablets - PhostoxinTM
Composition: Aluminum Phosphide
Weight: 3 gr. of Aluminum Phosphide
Phosphine released: 1 gr.
• Pellets - PhostoxinTM
Composition: Aluminum Phosphide
Weight: 0,6 gr. of Aluminum Phosphide
Phosphine released: 0,2 gr.
• Sleeves - Phostoxin Mini Rope-sTM
Special product presentation designed for residue free demanding destinations.
Phostoxin Mini Rope-s is designed to be easily removed from the cargo before arriving at destination.
Sleeves contain 1kg. of Phostoxin in powder in order to avoid the risk of filling with tablets a hand sawed cloth
sleeve and to enhance the liberation of phosphine by means of uniform contact of the product with the air
outside the sleeve.
Dosage and Time of Exposure
A succesfull fumigation depends basically on two issues: Dosage and Time of Exposure
Dosage
Per metric ton
o May vary from 1 to 5 tablets per metric ton (1 to 5 grams of phosphine)
Per cubic meter
o May vary from 1 to 3 tablets per cubic meter (1 to 3 grams of phosphine)
o When using J-SYSTEM – Recirculation, there is an already established dosage (45gr/1000cf or 1,6gr/m3 –
F.A.O.).
The ideal dosage should be calculated in terms of the space to be fumigated and not in terms of its weight since we are working
with a gas which should spread evenly in all the fumigated space. Nevertheless, a cargo that has been already loaded and in
which no live insects were seen may be fumigated with a dosage of 1 tablet per metric ton as a preventive procedure.
Time of exposure
It will depend on the dosage and temperature of the fumigated cargo. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time of
exposure. Nevertheless there is a minimum time of exposure to eliminate insects which varies from species to species.
The adult individuals are the most sensitive and some species have evolutionary stages which are very resistant to fumigation
and its elimination may take up to 5-days’ exposure to phosphine. Generally, vessels take 10-day journeys or more, which is
enough for a good fumigation. In the case of a shorter trip it is advisable to use the J-SYSTEM - Recirculation which distributes
the fumigating gas in a matter of hours and allows a better exposure.
I.M.O. Recommendations
for In-Transit Fumigations :
These recommendations are meant to prevent
accidents during in-transit fumigations and it is
consulting material in case of accidents in the maritime
business.
It is mandatory for the fumigation company to supply
the Master of the vessel with the necessary safety kit
for emergencies during in-transit fumigations. Besides,
the Master or Chief Officer and two crew members
should be instructed on the use of the equipment and
given the corresponding documents for their signature.
A duly signed copy of these documents is filled and
kept at Fugran to be submitted when required by the
client or the maritime authorities.
Safety Kit:
• 4 Full Face gas masks
• 4 Phosphine Cannisters / filters
• 1 Gas Pump
• 1 Masking Tape
• 20 Gas detecting tubes
• 1 Instructions manual Layout of Safety Instructions hended to the Master of the vessel,
containing pictures of the Safety Equipment
Fumigator's Duties:
First of all, the fumigation company should request the necessary authorizations to the Coast Guard. A "fumigator in charge"
should be appointed by the fumigation company.
1. Before fumigating, the company should provide the captain with written instructions in a language readily understood by the
master. Such instructions should contain: a) the type of fumigant used; b) the risks involved; c) the precautions to be taken; d)
the threshold limit values.
2. The fumigator in charge should notify the master in writing of the holds to be fumigated and should post warning signs at all
entrances to places to be fumigated.
Captain's Duties:
1. The captain should appoint at least 2 crew members, including one officer, who have received appropriate training, as
responsible persons for ensuring safe conditions in accommodation, engine-room and other working spaces;
2. The two trained representatives of the master should be familiar with the methods of
detection of the fumigant in air, symptoms of poisoning, first aid treatment, etc
Joint Duties:
After the application of the fumigant, the fumigator in charge together with the representative of the master should check that the
accommodation, engine rooms and other working spaces remain free of any harmful concentration of gas.
However, I.M.O. recommendations establish that the representatives of the master are responsible for ensuring that safe
conditions are maintained after the fumigator in charge has handed over the responsibility to the master.
The essential requirements are to:
(For Fumigation Companies)
1) Submit the registrations necessary for the in-transit fumigation treatments. (Naval Superintendence)
2) Submit the corresponding insurance policy to carry out this kind of fumigation treatments and covering an amount in
accordance with this kind of operation.
3) Submit a note duly signed on the responsibility of the fumigation company of respecting the I.M.O. regulations regarding
documentation, signals and fumigation procedures.
4) Submit the certificates to the Agriculture authorities and the safety sheet of the registration of the products used.
International Maritime
Fumigation Organization
The I.M.F.O. Group (International Maritime Fumigation Organisation) is conformed by independent in transit fumigation
companies. It has over 20 members in various countries. Member companies share common procedures and code of ethics in
order to offer unique quality of the services rendered.
Through its members and agreements with associated companies, the I.M.F.O. Group offers Port-to-Port services in the
following areas:
America Europe Africa Oceania Asia
Argentina Denmark Mozambique New Zealand India
Brazil France South Africa Vietnam
Canada Germany Libya Iran
United States Italy Tunis Iraq
Slovenia Morocco Saudi Arabia
Spain Egypt Syria
Portugal Algeria Turkey
United Kingdom Ivory Coast Jordan
Ukraine Yemen
Romania Oman
China
