The Cargo Integrity Group has identified a number of cargoes, commonly carried in containers, that under certain conditions can cause dangerous incidents.

The group has identified fifteen such cargoes of concern that are commonly transported by sea and intermodally. While these are usually transported safely when regulations and guidelines are followed, the group has created this list to highlight cargoes that can become hazardous if handled incorrectly. Cargoes that are mis-declared or have incomplete or incorrect information about their identity are more likely to be involved in incidents.

“The combined experience of our organisations has been harnessed to identify these categories and result in pin-pointing some commodities where the risks are perhaps less obvious,” said Peregrine Storrs-Fox, risk management director, TT Club. “While the potential dangers of transporting, for example, calcium hypochlorite or lithium-ion batteries might be more widely appreciated, the combustible qualities of seed cake or the hazards associated with cocoa butter or vegetable oils, will be less well-known.”

This list is not exhaustive, but each item illustrates a common type of hazard, divided into three categories:

Reactive Hazards
These cargoes can catch fire and cause significant damage and casualties under certain conditions. They are generally subject to Dangerous Goods regulations. Examples are:

• Charcoal / carbon
• Calcium Hypochlorite
• Lithium-ion batteries
• Cotton and wool
• Fishmeal and krill
• Seed cake

Spill or Leak Risks
These commodities can present a risk if not packed properly or if they are damaged. Spills or leaks from these cargoes can harm the health of people cleaning up the spill as well as the environment. Examples are:

• Hides and skins
• Wine
• Bitumen
• Cocoa butter
• Waste - recycled engines and engine parts
• Vegetable and other oils, particularly when packed in flexi-tanks

Improper Packing Consequences
Cargoes that are poorly or incorrectly packed or secured in the container can lead to injuries to personnel or damage to nearby containers, property or other cargo. Such incidents can cause severe accidents at sea or on land, such as truck rollovers and train derailments. Examples are:

• Logs and timber
• Steel coils
• Marble and granite

The list is based on data from, among other sources, the claims history of freight insurance provider, TT Club; a report prepared by ICHCA and submitted to the IMO on incidents involving dangerous goods on ships or in ports and from CINS which collates information provided by its members on incidents involving dangerous cargo.

Lars Kjaer, senior vice president, World Shipping Council, commented: “Every actor in the global container supply chain is responsible for the health and safety of not only their own people, but also of those at any onward stage of the container’s journey. Complying with regulations and following the advice in the CTU Code saves lives and we appeal to everyone shipping, packing and handling commodities that fall within the categories of these cargoes of concern to be particularly diligent.”

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