The China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) applied more strict rules to dangerous cargo moving through the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, one of the busiest cargo gateways in China, reported by The Loadstar.
Carriers and other stakeholders must file all mandatory documents 72 hours prior to the closure of declared vessel cut-offs for dangerous cargo gate-in.
The tighter measure comes in the wake of heightened industry concerns after a major explosion occurred on the containership YM Mobility in August 2024 while in port at one of the terminals Ningbo. The Loadstar also reminds of a series of onboard ship explosions and fires, prompting carriers and port authorities to pay greater attention to hazardous cargo declarations and carriage.
Earlier, TT Club, an international freight and logistics insurance provider, has called for urgent action from all stakeholders to improve safety protocols for transporting hazardous goods. The plea comes after four major incidents occurred within the last four months. These incidents likely resulted from a combination of errors in the classification, packaging, and declaration of hazardous materials.