Hazardous Materials And Ports: Mis-declared Cargoes Continue To Highlight Industry Safety Issues

Last month's port explosion in China has intensified the need for enhanced safety in handling dangerous cargo, urging owners and operators to reassess the emerging risks posed by energy technologies.

An explosion at the Chinese port of Ningbo-Zhoushan last month has once again intensified the industry's attention on mis-declared cargoes and fueled warnings from insurers for operators to better understand the value of goods in their care.

A heat wave at Ningbo-Zhoushan, China's second-busiest container port, triggered an explosion on the Taiwanese-owned YM Mobility, being loaded at one of the port's berths. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated, but local media reported that it may have been caused by a combination of factors such as the unseasonably high temperatures in the area and the presence of volatile materials (lithium-ion batteries and parabens) in the ship's cargo. The shipowner suggested these hazardous materials may have been stored