YM Mobility – explosion and fire – what really happened

When a container ship that carries everyday consumer goods across the oceans, we rarely stop that it may sign and explode chemicals with its potential.

This is precisely what happened on August 9, 2024, when the YM mobility, a container ship with a Liberian flag, was set on fire and exploded at the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, China.

The incident, caused by a single container of TERT-Butyl Perbenzoate (TBPB), destroyed cargoes severely damaged the ship, resulting in direct economic damage of approximately 90 million yuan.

While no casualties have been reported, the incident emphasizes how small shortcomings in dealing with dangerous goods can have catastrophic consequences.

What happened .. ??

Around 13:30, crew members noticed smoke and liquid leakage from a refrigerator with a TBPB carrier, a dangerous 5.2 organic peroxide class.

Within minutes, white smoke became thick flowers and exploded by 1346.

Several containers were disintegrated, others fell into the sea and parts of the body and deck were formed by the explosion.

Emergency teams responded quickly and using fire boats, chemical emergency ships and more than 50 fire trucks.

Key topics specified in the research

The official investigation of the China Maritime Safety Department highlighted several helpful factors:

1. TBPB heat installation
   TBPB is very unstable and prone to high temperature self -testing, releases extensive heat and gases. Simulation tests showed that its decomposition could reach 800 degrees Celsius-if temperature control is a catastrophic risk.
2. Use refrigerator containers without connecting
   Instead of carrying TBPB in activated cool cliffs, it carried it in unprocessed refrigerators. While such containers provide insulation, they trap heat and worsen the risks of thermal escape.
3. Severe summer heat
   Shanghai and Ningbo were recorded daily above 35-40 degrees Celsius during July and August 2024.
4. Gap in Reservation and Cargo Review
   Both carriers and shipping companies failed to evaluate the risks of Class 5..2 shipping in such circumstances. There was negligence in the adoption of a non -protection against summer heat.
5. The consequences of the waterfall
   After the thermal runaway began, the reaction was unstoppable. The injured explosion to adjacent containers disrupted parts of YM mobility and port operations.

Recommendations and measures to reduce future risks

In this report, several safety management recommendations were issued to direct freight and transport:

– Advertise here –

For carriers

• Careful examination of booking programs for Class 5.2 dangerous goods, especially in the type of containers and environmental factors.
• Active temperature control for organic peroxides and similar cargoes, especially in hot air seasons ..
• Crew training to identify initial thermal fugitive warning signs and execute fast emergency responses ..

To transport

• Detailed Declarations with Complete Technical Specifications and Requirements ..
• Regardless of cost saving pressures, avoid using unresolved rocks for goods that need temperature stability.
• Pre -Shipping Risk Assessment to consider packaging time, route time and environmental conditions ..

Wider lessons for the industry

Ym Mobility Item is not an isolated accident. Similar incidents related to organic peroxides, inaccurate cargoes, or inaccurate storage have caused catastrophic fire at sea.

• Adaptation of dangerous goods must be absolute, not optional ..
• Digital Tools for Freight Risk Management (eg Reefer Monitoring in Real Time, Automatically Reviewing) can help prevent monitoring.
• Cooperation between transportation, carriers, ports and regulators is essential to strengthen the account chain.

End

Ym Mobility The explosion as a reminder is clear that a mistake in the transportation of dangerous goods can threaten the life, assets and supply chains.

The industry should pay attention to the lessons: a stronger risk assessment, more accurate enforcement of IMDG rules, and more accurate use of technology to protect maritime trade ..

As global transport becomes more complex, crew safety, ships and cargoes depends on any stakeholders who take the management of hazardous goods seriously, because when it is mistaken, like YM Mobility Shows, the wrong way is going wrong ..

Related