Conclusion

The safe transportation of dangerous goods is one of the greatest challenges in container shipping. To minimise the risks involved, the shipper must always inform the carrier of potentially dangerous cargo. The cargo must then be named, packed, labelled, and documented in accordance with the respective regulations.

The regulations specified in the IMDG Code on stowage and segregation in containers and on board ship must be observed. Training is essential for employees that pack containers and produce or process dangerous goods documents.

Claims filed by carriers for losses caused by undeclared or incorrectly declared dangerous goods are not covered by customary marine cargo policies. Depending on the regulations and the contractual provisions, therefore, the shipper and possibly the manufacturer or distributor — and, if they have appropriate insurance cover, their liability insurers — may be confronted with substantial claims.

Even if fires on container ships are much less common than other types of loss in the marine sector, the damage is usually immense.

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