Free Template

DG Declaration Pre-Flight Checklist

Run this checklist on every Dangerous Goods Declaration before it goes to the carrier. The 25 items below are the cross-checks we run on every DG booking out of Shanghai, Qingdao, or Nanjing.

Press Cmd+P (Mac) or Ctrl+P (Windows) and choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog.

1. Substance identification

Proper Shipping Name matches IMDG Code Volume 2 entry exactly (no trade names)
UN Number is the four-digit identifier, not an NA number
CAS number on the DG Declaration matches the COA and the MSDS
Subsidiary risk noted if applicable (e.g. "8 (6.1)" for corrosive with toxic subsidiary)

2. Class and packing group

Hazard Class number correct (3 / 4 / 5 / 6.1 / 8 most common for chemicals)
Packing Group I, II, or III assigned and consistent across all documents
Marine Pollutant indicator marked yes/no per MARPOL Annex II
EmS (Emergency Schedule) reference present and correct for the class

3. Quantity and packaging

Number of packages by type listed (e.g. "80 × 200L steel drums")
Net quantity per package and total net quantity correct
UN packaging code on each drum/IBC matches the assigned packing group
Second character of UN code: X for PG I, Y for PG II, Z for PG III
Packaging type (1A1, 31A, 31H1, etc.) matches what was actually loaded

4. Class 3 specific

Flashpoint listed in degrees Celsius (closed-cup method)
Flashpoint consistent with PG assignment (PG I < 23°C, PG II < 60°C with boiling point ≤ 35°C, PG III otherwise)
Initial boiling point listed where required by class

5. Cross-document reconciliation

MSDS Section 14 fields match the DG Declaration line by line
Drum labels carry same UN number, class, and packing group
Container placards on all four sides plus the door end
Commercial invoice references the same substance and quantity
Packing list weights and counts match

6. Shipper certification

Shipper company name and address present (factory legal entity)
Authorised signatory name printed plus signature
Date of certification within 7 days of vessel sailing
Certification statement text intact (not modified or shortened)

Want this run for you?

We do this on every DG booking.

For our buyers, the DG Declaration crosses our desk before it goes to the carrier. We catch the misclassifications, the wrong UN numbers, and the packaging mismatches at the factory, not at the load port. Send us your DG cargo and we will run the same chain end-to-end.

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