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.
Under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, UN 3378 may be stowed either on deck or under deck. This means affected containers could be located in areas where access and firefighting operations are more challenging.
Firefighting and recommended precautions
The Safety Data Sheets (SDS) identify water as the preferred firefighting medium and recommend appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
The insurer also reports receiving information that HydroPen equipment has been used effectively to contain and extinguish fires involving affected containers. Operators are advised to review the applicable SDS, cargo stowage and segregation arrangements, and onboard emergency response measures.
Particular attention should be given to the acceptance of UN 3378 cargoes originating from Qingdao and Lianyungang, as well as increased vigilance where shipments are already being carried.
The repeated reports of container fires involving correctly declared UN 3378 cargoes highlight the importance of assessing the inherent hazards of dangerous goods beyond verifying their declaration.
For container ship operators, the substance’s oxidising properties, the possibility of fire spreading to nearby dangerous goods and the challenges of accessing containers stowed under deck make cargo acceptance, segregation and firefighting preparedness particularly important.
Although has not identified the underlying causes of the reported incidents, the latest alert reinforces the need for precautionary measures when transporting sodium percarbonate.