THE CHINA Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA) has introduced regulatory changes regarding the import and export of hazardous goods, in a move that will impact container lines.
The changes include tightened restrictions destined for or transshipping via Ningbo, China, one of the country’s largest container and cargo ports.
Advice from shipping line ANL states that effective immediately, it is now mandatory to provide a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for bookings transiting the major port.
For cargo including import discharge and transshipment via Ningbo, the DGD must be submitted in colour, with both a stamp and the declarant’s signature.
For exports from China transiting via Ningbo, a colour DGD with the declarant’s stamp and signature is required, along with an MSDS in both English and Chinese.
The shipping line warned to ensure compliance with the new regulations, “to prevent any delays or rollovers”, adding that noncompliance may result in disruptions to shipments.
The new restrictions follow a number of onboard incidents such as fires and explosions, including as recently as August when a container exploded aboard Yang Ming boxship YM Mobility at the port of Ningbo, where the new regulations are in effect.
It was later concluded that the container was carrying hazardous goods, including lithium batteries and a highly flammable organic compound called tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate.
Fortunately, no crew or port workers were injured in that incident.
