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Navigating Regulations: Understanding the Importance of Marine-grade Labeling Standards
Safe Ship, Inc. is a professional labeling company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, that offers high-quality marine-grade labeling services for businesses nationwide. This article will explore the topic of marine-grade labeling standards and the importance of complying with regulations.
We will also cover how companies can choose a professional marine-grade labeling company and the best practices that revolve around it.
What Is Marine-grade Labeling?
Marine-grade or marine-rated labeling refers to adhesives and label materials that can withstand elements that are often associated with maritime environments. These include strong winds, water, saltwater corrosion, and rough contact.
Marine-grade labels must be so durable because they are intended to mark hazardous or dangerous goods, like chemical containers, that are being transported overseas. That said, making sure that these boxes or drums have a strong label that indicates what their contents are and how to handle them properly is key to ensuring everyone’s safety before, during, and after shipping.
Which Industries Need Marine-grade Labeling?
The industries that will benefit the most from this type of labeling include industrial and manufacturing industries, medical and pharmaceutical industries, and automotive industries. All of them deal with a wide range of chemicals and solvents that require essential labels and instructions for appropriate transportation and handling.
Marine-grade Labeling Standards and Regulations
The regulatory bodies — the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) — have established a set of criteria labels must meet for them to be considered marine grade.
According to IMO regulations, more specifically, its International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code, labels on packages with dangerous goods must be identifiable and secured after a minimum of three months’ worth of immersion in the sea. In addition, the labels must not be discolored as a result of weather or saltwater exposure.
Besides this, maritime labels must also comply with the BS5609, or the British Standard 5609, which rigorously tests label materials to ensure that they survive even the most extreme marine environments. This standard offers specific guidelines for print permanence, adhesive performance, and abrasion resistance.
The Importance of Complying With These Regulations
Complying with these regulations is important for safety and liability reasons. On the one hand, these labels ensure that all chemical container handlers are informed about the contents of the container and instructions for proper management. On the other hand, adhering to requirements keeps the company safe from accidents that could occur due to improper labeling.
While less durable label materials fade over time and become unreadable, marine-rated labels must withstand harsh conditions and remain intact for long periods. Our chemical labeling at Safe Ship, Inc. ensures that all your stickers adhere to these standards and perform at optimal levels, especially when transported in marine environments.
Choosing a Professional Marine-grade Labeling Company
If you’re looking for marine-grade labeling for your products, you need to be particular about the company you partner with. Make sure that they are reliable, knowledgeable, and experienced in marine-grade labeling standards and regulations.
At Safe Ship, Inc. we offer industrial label solutions that are durable, high-quality, and long-lasting. They can overcome the challenges of maritime surroundings and guarantee that all your labels remain secure.
With over 40 years of experience in the labeling industry, we have obtained expertise in the field and now offer customizable labeling solutions to meet your business needs. Whether your company is in the medical, pharmaceutical, industrial, automotive, or manufacturing sectors, we can provide marine-grade labels that can accommodate your unique requirements.
Best Practices for Marine-grade Labeling
While we can provide you with the labels you need, you also need to implement best practices internally to ensure that all of your labels are in good order before shipping them overseas.
Some of the tips we recommend include the following:
- Conduct regular testing in a controlled environment to see how your labels will withstand diverse circumstances.
- Continuously evaluate and improve your labels to meet your specific regulatory goals.
- Ensure that the information you put on your labels is complete and accurate.
- Assign a quality assurance team to inspect and assess the safety and quality of your products and labels.
- Keep up-to-date with new label materials that may improve the effectiveness of your product labels.
These best practices will make your labels more effective and compliant.
Conclusion
Shipping dangerous goods overseas can open doors to potential challenges, like breaking glass due to turbulence, spilling chemicals on board, or being exposed to harsh weather conditions. When these occur, your products can become a threat to those on board. Understanding marine-grade labeling and its importance in various industries is essential because it can help you keep your products safe during transportation.
If you want to learn more about professional marine-grade labeling, our experts from Safe Ship, Inc. can help you determine the right products for your business, as well as guarantee compliance and effectiveness throughout the entire product journey.