The Port of Fremantle is the major general cargo port for Western Australia, and the handling of potentially dangerous cargoes is an integral part of its operations.

Dangerous cargoes are defined in the Australian Standard 3846-2005 and generally include cargoes that may present a safety hazard to people or the marine environment. Strict controls are in place to ensure that these cargoes are handled safely in the port, and are moved promptly out of the port area.

The majority of dangerous cargoes being transported to and from Fremantle Ports are associated with the mining and rural industries and include:

• petroleum products
• corrosive liquids, such as acids and caustic soda  
• ammonium nitrate
• speciality chemicals.

The definition for dangerous cargoes for shipping is broader than that used for land transport. This is because some materials are only hazardous when shipped in bulk or they present a greater hazard in a marine environment as compared to a land environment. The formal definition of dangerous cargoes includes:

• All the dangerous goods, hazardous and harmful substances, wastes, pollutants, etc. covered by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Codes (IMDG Code)
• Oils covered by Annex I of MARPOL 73/78
• Gases covered by the IMO Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk
• Noxious liquid substances or chemicals, including wastes, covered by the IMO Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk and Annex II of MARPOL 73/78
• Solid bulk materials possessing chemical hazards and solid bulk materials that are hazardous only in bulk, covered by Appendix B of the Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes.