FIRE
During the period of May to June 2023, a total of 7 fires were reported to CINS. Fortunately, no injuries or major vessel damage was reported. Cargo fires, four of which were on land, included Lithium Batteries (x2) , Charcoal, Sulphur, Tungsten Ore, Butane Cartridges and Fishmeal.
FIRE- LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
A fire in a 20ft container loaded lithium-ion batteries during the voyage from Singapore to Nhava Sheva.
The cargo had been mis-declared as non-DG. Despite the difficulty and the safety risk when gaining access to an above deck container in a confined space, the crew managed to puncture the container and flood the burning cargo with water. This action controlled the fire pending arrival at the next port where the container was discharged for investigation by the terminal authorities.
The data and commentary contained in this report is an assessment of the content of a database that is input by individual members of CINS and is not verified by the CINS Secretariat, the compiler of this report or any third party. All parties are expected to make reasonable effort to ensure any data is accurate, but errors may occur. A disproportionate number of members report incidents and readers should be guarded in any assumptions to the prevalence of an incident within industry. Accordingly, users of this report should understand that there is no guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
FIRE – UN 361 CHARCOAL
4 containers loaded onto the vessel in HO CHI MINH, were found emitting smoke during voyage. The cargo declared as DG, UN136. The vanning inspection report indicates the charcoal is packed according to IMDG Code, but inspection reveals the required airspace above the cargo has been omitted.
FIRE – SULPHUR
The container ignited during loading on board at Mundra. It was immediately discharged back to the CY. The terminal team took the necessary actions to control the fire.
PRIMARY INCIDENTS
During the months of May and June, 87 incidents were reported. In addition, 23 routine inspections were added to the data base. The chart displays the primary incidents of 64 leakages, 23 inspections, 12 mis-declared, 7 fires, 12 and 4 CTU issues. Leakages continue to be the most reported incidents - although, from reading the reported limited available comment, the incidents seem to be low-level issues of safety.
INCIDENTS BY PACKAGE TYPE
Flexitank incidents featured with 22 reported incidents. In so far as can be ascertained from the reports, no catastrophic leakages occurred.
INCIDENTS BY CARGO
REPORTED CARGO DG and NON-DG
Non-DG cargo comprised 57 of the reported 101 incidents where the cargo was reported.
REPORTED CARGO
There were 44 incidents involving a DG cargo of various types. Auto-parts and animal hides were the most reported non-Dg cargo.
INCIDENT LOCATION
54 incidents took place at sea, the balance of 33 on-land
LEAKAGE - UN 2789 ACETIC ACID
Leakage of jerricans was caused by improper packing (POL Mundra) No dunnage plate had been fitted between layers of jerricans resulting in the excess weight crushing the lower jerrican tiers.
The jerricans were filled with corrosive substance UN 2789 acetic acid. The leakage caused severe damage to the container interior.
DANGEROUS INCIDENT – COILS
Four 20ft containers, each laden with 3 improperly secured steel coils were found, during discharge from the vessel, to be heavily damaged by the movement of the coils. The consignment included 46 containers, all of which are to be surveyed to ensure safe transport to the final destination.
UN TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS MEETING GENEVA, JULY 2023
The meeting includes discussion on two cargoes frequently involved in a CINS Incidents:
2023-13 STATUS OF UN 1362 (CARBON, ACTIVATED) AND ITS REDEFINITION TO PROVIDE GREATER CLARITY
16. CEFIC kindly requests the Sub-Committee to consider the redefinition of UN 1362 CARBON, ACTIVATED, as relating only to CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED CARBONS, by a change in the description from ‘UN 1362, CARBON, ACTIVATED’ to ‘UN 1362 CARBON, CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED’.
17. With this redefinition, STEAM ACTIVATED CARBON would no longer have a schedule in the Model Regulations and therefore could be removed from the special provisions of each of the modal codes. This would allow these special provisions to be more pertinent and relevant to potentially dangerous goods. 18. Cefic would also like to propose the review of similar substances that have an absolute exemption from the requirements of individual transport codes, by means of a special provision to assist in clarification and support of global trade activity of these affected commodities.
62.INF 3 POLYMERIZING SUBSTANCES AND SELF ACCELERATION POLYMERIZATION TEMPERATURE (SAPT)
This paper indicates that the current SAPT test does not provide the required level of accuracy.
In discussion with experts from all stakeholders, including authorities and expert groups like IGUS-EOS, it became clear that the determination of an exact SAPT via the test methods as described in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, test series H, is not straight forward or not even possible as described in this test manual. This in contrast with SADT determinations where there is a straightforward decomposition reaction without the influence of inhibition/inhibition effectiveness.
Cre: CINS
