TT Club is calling for greater diligence across the supply chain following a “spate” of containership fires in recent months.
The freight insurer said all players in the global supply chain have a responsibility for accurate and effective communication around the transport of dangerous goods, reiterating a “longstanding, fervent message” for shippers to be more diligent in how cargo is classified, packaged, packed, declared and handled.
The message was prompted by four major maritime incidents in the last four months: the Northern Juvenile fire in the South China Sea, the fatal Maersk Frankfurt explosion in the Indian Ocean, the MSC Cape Town III fire in Colombo Port and, most recently, the YM Mobility explosion at Ningbo.
MSC Cape Town III and YM Mobility were both berthed at the time of their respective incidents.
TT Club risk management director Peregrine Storrs-Fox said the causes are still under investigation, but there are “strong indications” that potentially explosive chemicals and fire accelerators, such as lithium-ion batteries, may be involved in at least two of the cases.
“As with historic incidents, it is likely that various errors occurred as the shipments were initiated and the exact nature of the cargoes was communicated to supply chain counterparties, giving rise again to ‘perfect storms’,” Mr Storrs-Fox said.
“Every participant in the process needs to act in the best interests of safety at every point in these cargoes’ journeys.”
TT Club said the exact number of containers carrying dangerous goods, shipped annually, is difficult to estimate due to mis- and non-declaration.
The International Maritime Organization amended the Guidelines for the implementation of the inspection programmes for cargo transport units in 2022 to urge governments to inspect all types of units, regardless of the declared cargo.
TT Club said the recently released consolidated results, from just eight countries for 2023 evidence continuing safety concerns.
The insurer said the “minute” sample size of about 0.03% of containerised traffic suggests “placarding and marking” shows some improvement, but this deficiency, being for first visual alert for many stakeholders and particularly emergency responders, remains above 40%.
And also, reports noting deficiencies in stowage and securing (within units) indicates a rapidly worsening trend over the last five years and the worst position since reports began in 2001.
TT Club also highlighted a five-year, worsening trend of documentation errors – another key risk indicator.
Mr Storrs-Fox lauded a recent statement by China’s Maritime Safety Authority which underlined shippers’ responsibilities, in addition to carriers’ responsibilities.
“Such warnings and encouragements by regulatory authorities are to be welcomed. However, TT would reiterate the statement that regulations merely set the baseline.”
