TT Club urges global supply chain to respond to growing

In response to a recent series of container ship fires, TT Club, an international freight and logistics insurance provider, called on the global supply chain to increase awareness and responsibility when handling dangerous goods. Four major incidents involving container ships in the past four months, two at sea and two in ports, have highlighted the urgent need for accurate cargo classification, packaging and communication.

See also: TT Club highlights ongoing efforts to prevent container losses at sea

Tragic incidents include the Northern Juvenile in the South China Sea, the Maersk Frankfurt in the Indian Ocean, and more recently the MSC Cape Town III in Colombo and the YM Mobility in Ningbo. Peregrine Storrs-Fox of TT Club said investigations indicated that potentially explosive chemicals and ignition agents, such as lithium-ion batteries, may have been the cause of at least two of these incidents. These incidents highlight the importance of careful handling of cargo and communication at every stage of the supply chain to prevent these catastrophic events.

Although the average frequency of such fires over the past 30 years has been about one every 60 days, the TT Club stressed that even one life-threatening fire is one too many. The organization noted that while the two recent fires occurred while the ships were at anchor, allowing shore-based emergency services to respond quickly, incidents at sea can lead to more serious consequences, as was the case in the Maersk Frankfurt incident where a crew member lost his life.

Accurate declaration of dangerous goods remains a major challenge, and the IMO’s 2022 revisions to the Guidance for the Implementation of Cargo Transport Unit Inspection Programmes emphasise the need for governments to inspect all cargo, regardless of what is declared. However, recent findings from a small number of inspections have highlighted ongoing safety issues, particularly with regard to placarding, marking, stowage and documentation.

TT Club applauded the recent statement by the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) highlighting the responsibilities of shippers and carriers. However, the group warned that regulations alone are not enough and urged all supply chain participants to prioritize safety, due diligence and clear communication to prevent future disasters.