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Together in Safety • Incident Prevention • Container Fires

Container Fires

Risk of serious injury, cargo and total loss due to mis-declaration of containers and inappropriate stowage.

5.4m containers shipped annually contain declared dangerous goods 1
2.5% of containers include misdeclared cargo 2
1 https://www.marinelink.com/news/top-maritime-trends-tackling-scourge-483775 2 A 2020 study by the New York based National Cargo Bureau (NCB)
Lifeboats
Engine Room Fires
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Heavy Weather
Navigation incidents
Bunker spills
Container Losses
Lifting Operations
Mooring Operations
Personnel Transfer
High Pressure
Enclosed Spaces
Vehicle Decks

Guiding Principles

  1. Demand the proper identification, classification, packaging, labelling, documentation and placarding of the cargoes/commodities transported by container units. Many cases of Container Fire are due to undeclared HAZMAT, or declared with different properties for their actual ones.
  2. Implement effective cargo screening processes at booking and/or prior to loading.
  3. Ensure the “packaging” and “packing” of the HAZMAT commodities, which are also controlled by the IMDG Code and US CFR49.
  4. Specify the correct requirements of the container. The specifications of Container Units are well regulated, but deviations do exist as shippers in many cases use “technicalities” to exempt their cargoes from being shipped in fit-for-purpose units.
  5. Obtain the appropriate documentation for each Container Unit that contains HAZMAT and be able to verify the apparent validity of the documents.
  6. Determine the correctness of the stowage position of each HAZMAT Unit to be in compliance with IMDG Code and/or US CFR49, not only in paper/software but also physically on board (above or below deck).
  7. Empower Masters to reject IMDG Container if non-compliant with the provisions of the IMDG Code and/or US CFR49 – i.e. missing or wrong documentation, heavily damaged and/or leaking Container unit,inability to load in certain position due to IMDG restrictions and availability of slots.
  8. Conduct daily checks on the IMDG Containers with particular interest to observe signs such as odour, vapors, leakages, as well as possible increase of the unit’s temperature or smoke coming out. Embrace technology to include proactive use of thermal cameras.
  9. Adopt best practices for fire-fighting equipment on existing vessels – water mist lances – which is mandatory for new build vessels.
    Achieving Cargo Integrity
  10. Run realistic drills on board, utilizing challenging and realistic scenarios. In addition to compulsory STCW HAZMAT training, supplement with USCG-approved HAZMAT Training Course.
    General Container Operations Including Waste Shipments
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Resources

Incident Prevention

Example enclosed space entry permit to work form

Example enclosed space entry permit to work form

Tools

download

Incident Prevention

Example cargo tank entry permit form

Example cargo tank entry permit form

Tools

download

Incident Prevention

Example Mooring / Anchoring Operations Audit

An example mooring audit.

Tools

download

Incident Prevention

Example Bunker Operation Checklist

Checklist to ensure safe bunkering.

Checklist

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      Incident Prevention

      View all subjects

      Container Fires

      Risk of serious injury, cargo and total loss due to mis-declaration of containers and inappropriate stowage.

      Personnel Transfer

      Risk of serious injury and drowning during the transfer of personnel, including use of gangways, ladders and personnel baskets.

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