Loss Prevention Advice
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A safety alert following a container fire involving UN 3378 Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate (sodium percarbonate), urging caution when accepting shipments of the substance, particularly from the Chinese ports of Qingdao and Lianyungang.
In its latest alert, issued on 16 October, reported receiving information about a further container fire involving the cargo under circumstances similar to those previously identified. The update follows an initial alert issued on 7 October, when reported multiple container fires involving UN 3378 cargoes loaded at Qingdao and Lianyungang.
The cargo had been correctly declared in each of the initially reported incidents, indicating that the warnings were not based on identified cargo misdeclaration.
Following the additional incident, its recommendation for extreme caution when accepting bookings for this substance from the two ports and increased vigilance where such cargo is already onboard.
Fire hazards and stowage considerations
Sodium percarbonate is an oxidising substance that can release heat and oxygen during decomposition, potentially intensifying a fire. The concerns that a developing fire could affect other dangerous goods stowed nearby, increasing the potential consequences of an incident.
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Misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods continue to expose container ships and their crews to serious fire and explosion risks, while increasing vessel sizes make onboard emergencies more difficult to manage, according to discussions in The Swedish Club’s Knot Another Lesson podcast.
In the episode titled “Misdeclared Cargo: Catching the risk before it sails,” Joakim Enström, Loss Prevention Manager at The Swedish Club, is joined by Captain Jorge Pecci, Vice President of Commercial Services at National Cargo Bureau (NCB), and Josh Laverick, Client Solutions Director at NCB Hazcheck, to examine why cargo misdeclarations persist and how earlier detection can prevent incidents at sea.
The discussion highlights findings from container inspections, the role of digital cargo screening and the importance of strengthening accountability throughout the supply chain.
Misdeclared cargo remains a systemic safety concern
According to Pecci, an NCB container inspection initiative identified significant compliance shortcomings. Of more than 500 containers inspected, over 270 failed to meet the required standards, representing a failure rate of approximately 55%.
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The Qiongzhou Strait is the body of the PRC’s territorial water that lies between Hainan Island and the Zeizhou Peninsula with high traffic density and complex traffic controls that require stringent supervision to maintain safe passage.
As a notice to the Shipowners that transit these waters, the following is a reminder of mandatory regulatory requirements and practical guidance with the object of effectively reducing the likelihood of navigational incidents and mitigating compliance risks.
This information is found in the October 20, 2026 Huatai Marine Circular No.:[2026] 07, Transit of the Qiongzhou Strait: Mandatory Requirements, Navigational Risks and Loss Prevention Recommendations.
It is recommended that Shipowners take note of this information and be guided accordingly by correspondent, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consulting Services, Ltd., are thanked most warmly for their assistance in this matter.
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A useful overview of the risks and management of bulk liquid cargoes during prolonged storage.
Prolonged storage of bulk liquid cargoes – whether due to port congestion, commercial delays or other forms of delay – can significantly increase the risk of cargo deterioration. Under such conditions, cargoes that are otherwise stable during normal voyages may undergo chemical or physical changes, resulting in off-specification product, operational difficulties and, in some cases, serious safety concerns.
This article outlines the key degradation mechanisms affecting commonly carried bulk liquid cargoes and highlights the practical measures required onboard to monitor, control and mitigate these risks.
Full advisory at the following link.