Many freight container units and bulk cargo holds on ships are treated with chemical pesticides termed fumigants. Fumigant must be applied according to the correct instructions. As holds are always unventilated for a time after fumigation, there may be a risk of excessive condensation, which can produce sweating or dripping. This can lead to cargo damage as well as fire and explosion risks, the Swedish P&I Club has warned.
In particular, the Club says that agricultural products in bulk may be fumigated in ships’ holds to prevent insect infestation. Solid aluminium phosphide (or similar) is often used for fumigation. Continue reading “Swedish Club highlights the dangers of cargo fumigation”
This cargo advice has been prepared by 
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European and international business organisations are urging the 
Singapore has secured the top spot once again in the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report. It is the ninth consecutive year that the report, published jointly by Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, and global maritime data provider, the Baltic Exchange, has ranked Singapore as the leading global maritime centre.
The West P&I Club has noted a number of recent container fire incidents related to containers which were declared as miscellaneous items but actually contained charcoal/carbon. This is a commodity liable to spontaneous combustion. These containers were below deck and when fires broke out there was considerable damage caused to the vessel and other cargo by the fire and the water used to extinguish the fire.
A subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (