Why Shipping Lines Reject Dangerous Goods Cargo and How to Avoid It
Carriers reject dangerous goods bookings for a handful of repeat reasons. Most of them can be fixed before the booking is sent.
A shipping line can refuse a dangerous goods booking before the container is even packed. It can also stop the container at the gate or take it off the loading list. In most cases the reason is not the cargo itself. It is a mismatch somewhere in the paperwork, the packaging or the plan for the voyage.
Below are the reasons we see most often, and what to do about each one.
1. The documents do not match each other
The DG declaration, the SDS, the commercial invoice and the booking request must describe the cargo the same way. That means the same UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and, for flammable liquids, flash point. A different product name on the invoice is fine. A different UN number is not.
A common case: the supplier's SDS is several years old and Section 14 still shows an entry that has since changed. Since 1 January 2026, carriers check against IMDG Amendment 42-24, so an old SDS can create a mismatch even when nothing about the product changed. Our guide to IMDG Amendment 42-24 lists the entries that moved.
2. The cargo is declared under the wrong entry
Misdeclared and undeclared DG is the reason carriers are strict about everything else. If the line believes a product is hazardous and it is booked as general cargo, expect the booking to be stopped and a request for an SDS. Products that are often missed include perfumes and aerosols, paints and resins, batteries inside equipment and some cleaning chemicals.
3. The packaging is not right for the packing group
DG packaging must be UN-specification packaging approved for the packing group of the goods, with the UN mark on it. Packing group I needs packaging tested to the "X" level. Packing group II needs "X" or "Y". Reusing drums that have no mark, or packing liquids in packaging only approved for solids, leads to rejection at the terminal.
4. Labels, marks and placards are missing or wrong
Each package needs the class label, the UN number and proper shipping name, and the marine pollutant mark where it applies. The container needs placards on the outside. Missing a subsidiary hazard label is a frequent mistake.
5. Segregation conflicts in the container
Some classes cannot travel in the same container, or even near each other on the ship. Oxidizers and flammable liquids are a typical example. This is a common problem in consolidated loads, where different shippers' DG ends up in one box. Check the IMDG segregation table before you plan the load, not after.
6. The carrier, vessel or port does not accept that class
Acceptance is not only about the code. Each line has its own list of classes and UN numbers it will not carry, or will only carry on certain services. Transshipment ports have local rules too. In Dubai, for example, Trakhees circulars set summer storage limits for some classes at Jebel Ali. A booking that fits the IMDG Code can still be refused because the route passes a port that does not take that cargo.
7. The paperwork arrives after the DG cut-off
DG documents have their own cut-off, usually earlier than the normal documentation cut-off, because the line has to get approval and plan stowage. Late submission often means the box rolls to the next vessel.
Quick checklist before you book
- One UN number, name, class and packing group across every document
- SDS issued or reviewed against the current IMDG edition
- UN-marked packaging approved for the packing group
- All labels, including subsidiary hazards, and container placards planned
- Segregation checked for every class in the container
- Carrier and transshipment port acceptance confirmed for the route
- DG documents sent before the DG cut-off
Not sure whether your cargo will be accepted? Send the SDS, UN number, packaging type and route to ANIL DARYA through our freight rate inquiry or WhatsApp. We will check it against carrier requirements before you book. See also our dangerous goods shipping service.