Still talking about shipping dangerous goods, take a look at the following recent Incidents highlighting the risks.

A blazing ship lists dramatically as flames engulf its structure, with a rescue vessel nearby attempting to control the disaster.

Here are some recent incidents involving the transport of dangerous goods:

Port of Antwerp (June 2024): A container caught fire at the MSC PSA Terminal, leading to the shutdown of terminals and evacuation of docked vessels. The fire was caused by a container with yellow phosphorus.

Port of Antwerp (June 2024)

• Findings: The investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a container carrying yellow phosphorus. The incident led to a shutdown of terminals and evacuation of docked vessels.

• Fines: There were no specific fines related to this incident, but the port authorities conducted major checks on lorries, resulting in 250,000 euros in on-the-spot fines and the seizure of nine trucks for various violations.

Port of Colombo (August 2024): An explosion occurred on the container ship MSC Capetown III, causing a fire onboard. The incident involved a container with dangerous cargo, and the ship required extensive repairs.

Port of Colombo (August 2024)

• Findings: The explosion on the container ship MV MSC Capetown III was caused by a container with dangerous cargo. The exact cause is still under investigation.

• Fines: There were no specific fines reported for this incident. However, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority conducted a thorough investigation to determine the cause and assess the damage.

  
  

• Port of Ningbo (August 2024): Another explosion and fire occurred on the container ship YM Mobility within three days of the Colombo incident. Investigations suspect that the explosion was caused by a container with lithium-ion batteries.

Port of Ningbo (August 2024)

• Findings: The explosion on the container ship YM Mobility was caused by a container carrying lithium-ion batteries and tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate. The explosion led to a fire, but fortunately, there were no casualties.

• Fines: No specific fines have been reported for this incident. Yang Ming declared General Average to protect the common interests of the vessel, cargo owners, and all parties involved.

  
  

• These incidents highlight the importance of proper declaration, accurate

  labelling, and adherence to safety measures when transporting dangerous goods. Misdeclaration and improper packing can lead to severe accidents, emphasizing the need for stringent regulations and compliance.

For info

General Average is a principle of maritime law where all stakeholders in a sea venture proportionately share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency.

Essentially, if part of the cargo is jettisoned to save the ship and the remaining cargo, the loss is shared among all cargo owners and the shipowner.

For example, if a ship encounters a storm and the crew decides to throw some cargo overboard to lighten the ship and prevent it from sinking, the owners of the remaining cargo would share the cost of the lost cargo.

This principle ensures fairness and encourages collective action in emergencies, preventing disputes over whose cargo was sacrificed