YM MOBILITY

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Report on container explosion released

The China Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA) has released a report on its findings into the explosion and fire which occurred on the 'YM Mobility' at the Ningbo Port on Aug 9, 2024, starting in a container loaded with dangerous goods close to the ship’s bow. The CMSA revealed in the report that the cargo in the reefer container included tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB), a compound that has thermal instability and can self-decompose at room temperature, and release large amounts of heat and produce gas or vapour. According to the shipper’s declaration, the container in question was a reefer unit used as a substitute for a dry container, without requiring power connection. The container was used to store TBPB despite having poor heat dissipation properties, with the heat generated by the TBPB self-decomposition reaction therefore accumulating in the container. The continuous increase in temperature accelerated the self-decomposition reaction, which resulted in thermal runaway and the subsequent explosion and fire. The incident occurred during a period when summer temperatures in Shanghai where the product was packed, were higher than usual. From July25 to Aug 9, Shanghai and Ningbo saw high temperatures, with daytime temperature reaching a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius. The investigation showed that the operator failed to exercise sufficient care when reviewing the cargo transportation plan. In particular, the operator failed to conduct a full safety assessment of the stability of the cargo and the risk of thermal runaway with respect to the conditions such as high outside temperatures, self-separation of the cargo, and thermal insulation of the unplugged reefer unit. The operator failed to conduct a full safety assessment of the stability of the cargo and the risk of thermal runaway with respect to the conditions such as high outside temperatures, self-separation of the cargo, and thermal insulation of the unplugged reefer unit. The operator agreed to use the unplugged reefer to transport the dangerous goods and did not consider the temperature changes in the container during transportation. The CMSA found no abnormalities in other steps throughout the cargo transportation process. The investigation found both the operator and the shipper to responsible for the incident.

Yang Ming declared General Average more than one week after fire

After the fire incident near the bow of the 'YM Mobility' at the Port of Ningbo on Aug 9, Yang Ming declared General Average on August 18, 2024, for the common interests of the vessel, cargo owners and all parties involved. Yang Ming has appointed Richards Hogg Lindley as the adjuster to handle related matters according to the York Antwerp Rules. Meanwhile,, the situation has been fully controlled. The exact cause of the incident will be investigated by third-party professionals. Taking into the considerations of the safety of the vessel and the surrounding environment, Yang Ming has arranged the unloading and transshipment of the cargo onboard, with the approval of the port authorities. The schedule for the delivery and release of the cargo is subject to the adjuster’s notifications. The contact information for the adjuster is YMM-casualty@rhl-ct.com, and Yang Ming’s sales representatives will also provide updates on related matters to the customers involved

Lithium batteries caused explosion

The explosion on the 'YM Mobility' was caused by lithium batteries. There was an uncontrollable heat development in a container in Ningbo on Aug 9. The Taiwanese shipping group Yang Ming confirmed on Aug 10 that a preliminary investigation has shown that a container of dangerous goods had exploded on board the ship. On Aug 10, there were no visible flames on board, and cooling efforts with water sprays were ongoing, Representatives from P&I Clubs, Classification Societies, and surveyors have been arriving on-site to coordinate with the authorities. Yang Ming’s technical personnel were providing 24/7 on-site support to assess the impact of the fire and the seaworthiness of the 'YM Mobility'.” Once the incident was fully resolved it look into the feasibility of vessel repairs, cargo transhipment and schedule adjustment.