Dangerous goods declaration software checks shipment data against the regulations, flags errors before cargo is accepted and produces the transport documents. NCB Hazcheck’s software validates shipments against the IMDG Code, 49 CFR and ADR, checks segregation and restrictions, and generates dangerous goods documentation. It can also read incoming declarations so the data does not have to be retyped. Hazcheck Validate, Validate Desktop and Extract cover these tasks for shippers, freight forwarders, carriers and terminals.
The problem: manual DG checks don’t scale
Every dangerous goods booking has to be checked. Is the UN number and proper shipping name correct? Are the class, packing group and quantities consistent? Is the load correctly segregated? Do port or vessel restrictions apply? Is the declaration complete? Doing this by hand from the Dangerous Goods List is slow and depends heavily on individual expertise. Errors that get through can lead to rejected bookings, delays, fines and, in the worst cases, incidents at sea.
Incoming declarations add to the workload. Many arrive as PDFs or scans in different layouts, and someone has to read each one and key it into a booking or operations system before any check can begin.
What good dangerous goods software should do
Validate against the right regulations
Shipments should be checked against the regulations that apply to each leg of the journey: the IMDG Code for sea, 49 CFR for US shipments and ADR for road. Each check should link back to the relevant entry and special provisions so users can see why something was flagged.
Check segregation and restrictions
Mixed loads must be checked for segregation compliance. Port, vessel and company-specific restrictions should be applied automatically rather than left to memory.
Produce compliant documentation
Once a shipment passes validation, the software should generate the transport documents, such as the dangerous goods declaration (DGD) or dangerous goods note (DGN), from the same validated data.
Capture incoming declarations
Reading data from incoming DGDs, rather than retyping it, reduces keying errors and speeds up acceptance. A person should still review and approve the data before it is used.
Integrate with existing systems
For operators handling high volumes, validation should run inside booking and cargo systems through an API or EDI, not only through a separate screen.
Support teams and audits
Look for user management, single sign-on, saved loads for recurring shipments and audit-ready reporting.
How Hazcheck covers it
Hazcheck Validate (online)
Hazcheck Validate is NCB Hazcheck’s SaaS compliance and validation tool. It:
- validates shipments against the IMDG Code (international maritime), 49 CFR (US domestic carriage by vessel) and ADR (intermodal shipments);
- searches the IMDG Code Dangerous Goods List, the ADR Dangerous Goods List and the 49 CFR 172.101 table, with links to special provisions, packing instructions and emergency response data;
- generates dangerous goods transport documentation (DGD, DGN) and audit-ready reports;
- supports company-specific rules for port restrictions, vessel restrictions, competent authority approvals and your own prohibitions;
- offers saved loads, user management and Microsoft/Google single sign-on; and
- connects through a REST API and EDI (IFTDGN, IFTMBF), as well as a web interface for manual entry.
Validate is hosted by major cloud providers. NCB Hazcheck states that it is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant.
Hazcheck Validate Desktop
Hazcheck Validate Desktop is the version installed on individual PCs for organisations that prefer local software. It provides dangerous goods list enquiry and validates mixed loads for IMDG Code segregation compliance. It also checks vessel and port restrictions, monitors stowage and generates transport documentation such as DGNs and manifests. It covers the IMDG Code, 49 CFR, ADR and combined IMDG/49 CFR/ADR for intermodal shipments. Validate Desktop brings the earlier Hazcheck Workstation, Professional and Enterprise products together in a single desktop platform.
Hazcheck Extract (DGD OCR)
Hazcheck Extract uses AI and language models to read dangerous goods documents in a range of formats. Within seconds it identifies and extracts key fields, checks the data and flags inconsistencies or missing compliance information. Users can review, adjust and approve the extracted data before exporting or integrating it. When Extract is connected to Hazcheck Validate, the extracted data can be validated against regulations such as the IMDG Code. Its API allows integration with booking systems and cargo platforms, so the whole process can be automated from document receipt to validation.
Who uses Hazcheck software
- Shippers preparing and checking their own declarations.
- Freight forwarders and agents validating customer shipments before booking.
- Carriers, including ferry and container ship operators, checking and accepting high volumes of DG bookings.
- Port operators checking cargo arriving at the terminal.
- Compliance teams in small, mid-sized and enterprise organisations needing consistent checks and audit trails.
NCB Hazcheck states that over 80% of the world’s maritime dangerous cargo is validated with a Hazcheck product.
Carriers that also want to find cargo that has not been declared can add Hazcheck Detect, which screens booking data for misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods.
Choosing between Validate and Validate Desktop
- Choose Validate if you want a cloud service with browser access, API/EDI integration and team features without managing local installations.
- Choose Validate Desktop if your organisation needs software installed on individual PCs, or you are moving from Hazcheck Workstation, Professional or Enterprise.
- Add Extract to either if you receive a high volume of DGDs from customers or partners.
Request a demo
Tell us how you currently handle dangerous goods bookings and declarations, and we will show you how Validate, Validate Desktop and Extract could fit your workflow. Request a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What regulations does Hazcheck Validate check against?
The IMDG Code, 49 CFR and ADR. Validate Desktop also supports combined IMDG/49 CFR/ADR validation for intermodal shipments.
Can Hazcheck Validate check segregation?
Yes. Validate Desktop validates mixed loads for IMDG Code segregation compliance, and both products apply vessel, port and company-specific restrictions.
Does Hazcheck integrate with our booking system?
Yes. Hazcheck Validate offers a REST API and EDI (IFTDGN and IFTMBF), and Hazcheck Extract has a built-in API for booking systems and cargo platforms.
What is DGD OCR?
DGD OCR means automatically reading data from dangerous goods declarations. Hazcheck Extract uses AI and language models to extract and check the data, and users review it before it is used.
Can the software produce a dangerous goods declaration?
Yes. Hazcheck Validate generates dangerous goods transport documentation, including the DGD and DGN, and Validate Desktop produces DGNs and manifests.
Is Hazcheck Validate secure?
Validate is a SaaS platform hosted by major cloud providers. NCB Hazcheck states that it is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, with Microsoft and Google single sign-on available.