by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

In the past two months alone, the container shipping industry witnessed three dangerous incidents involving Dangerous Goods (DG).

On 23 June, a container caught fire at the MSC PSA Terminal at the Port of Antwerp. As a precaution, terminals were shut down, and docked vessels were evacuated. It turns out that the fire was caused by a container with yellow phosphorus.

More recently, two incidents happened in one week this August.

An explosion occurred on the container ship MSC Capetown III on 11 August at the Port of Colombo, leading to a fire onboard. One container involved in the incident contained dangerous cargo.

This was the second explosion and fire on a container ship within three days, following an incident on the Yang Ming vessel YM Mobility on 9 August at the Port of Ningbo.

Investigations suspect that the explosion in Ningbo was caused by a container with lithium-ion batteries. The ship will need at least three months of repairs, with costs potentially exceeding its market value of $55 million.

Common DGs shipped by ocean freight containers

Lithium-ion batteries are among the most common dangerous goods shipped by Kuehne+Nagel. This does not only refer to lithium batteries as a single entity; it includes the many products that contain them.

In addition to mobile phones, they are widely used in almost every chargeable device. The dangerous thing about them is that they can overheat and catch fire if damaged or improperly packed, which makes them a common cause of incidents in containerised shipping.

No matter how small the devices with lithium batteries are, there is still a risk of fire.

A full container of lithium-ion digital devices, for example, might not seem dangerous. But if one of the batteries is damaged and happens to overheat on a ship in the middle of the Indian Ocean - where weather conditions could exacerbate the risk - and the smoke spreads to other goods in the container, the chance of an explosion becomes considerably high.

Flammable materials, such as aerosol sprays used in products like hairspray and spray paint, are also common goods shipped by containers.

The bottles can be subjected to physical stress during shipping, especially in rough sea conditions. If they are mishandled or improperly packed, they can leak or even burst, leading to dangerous situations.

Safety measures for containerised trade

Accurate declaration of goods

Experts believe that misdeclaration of goods is one key reason for accidents caused by dangerous goods in ocean shipping. It is estimated that more than 50,000 containers shipped each year are either not declared or incorrectly declared. 

Completing the Dangerous Goods (DG) Transport Document and Declaration is the best way to ensure that you correctly declare your goods. The documents would include the most important information needed, such as the UN number, the proper shipping name of the hazardous material, the hazard class and the quantity and type of packaging.

Proper classification and labelling

All dangerous goods must be correctly classified and labelled according to international regulations, which helps identify risks and handle the cargo appropriately. Secure packaging is essential to prevent leaks, spills, or damage during transit, as well as using robust containers and securing the cargo to avoid movement. 

Putting the right label on products alone is not enough. Every container that carries dangerous goods needs to have the correct placard.

The person who is responsible for loading the container must also ensure that the correct placards are used. The carrier is the entity that has possession of the dangerous goods while they are in transport, and correct placards help inform emergency responders and others about the nature of the hazardous materials being transported.

Every product has the potential to become a risky product depending on where and how it is stored on the container ship. That is why shippers are advised to make sure their forwarders know about the type and quantity of their shipments to ensure that their goods arrive safely.

Detailed information about the proper handling of DG for maritime shipping can be found in the IOM's IMDG Code.