Connect with us

Incident

Yang Ming ship “YM Mobility” catches fire in massive container explosion in Ningbo

Firms says cause of the incident is still under investigation and preliminary findings suggest that an explosion occurred in a container loaded with dangerous goods on board.

Admin

Published

2 years ago

on

Yang Ming ship “YM Mobility” catches fire in massive container explosion in Ningbo

A massive explosion occurred on a vessel owned by Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp at the Beilun container terminal in Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Friday (9 August).

Yang Ming said after one of its cargo ships, YM Mobility, caught fire near the bow of the vessel at around 1.40pm, immediate fire fighting measures were taken and that the situation was under control.

“The cause of the incident is still under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that an explosion occurred in a container loaded with dangerous goods on board,” the firm said in a statement. 

“According to the shipper’s declaration, the container was a reefer used as a substitute for a dry container, without requiring power connection.”

All crew members have safely evacuated. Huan Ming (Shanghai) International Shipping Agency Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yang Ming Group, is actively coordinating with the authorities to manage the situation.

YM Mobility is currently deployed to Far East to/from Middle East service, CGX. 

In an updated statement by the firm on 10 August, Yang Ming said there were no visible flames on board, and cooling efforts with water sprays were ongoing. 

It added representatives from P&I Clubs, Classification Societies, and surveyors arrived on-site to coordinate with the authorities.

Following the incident, the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China issued a notice on 9 August that all units should strengthen the safety management of dangerous goods on board ships, with a focus on strengthening:

  • the management of flammable and explosive packaged dangerous goods such as Class 1, 2.1, 3, 4.1, and 5.2, and 
  • those requiring temperature control, bulk solid dangerous goods such as ammonium nitrate whose cargo temperature is not higher than 40°C during loading, bulk oils such as gasoline with a closed cup flash point below 60°C, 
  • bulk chemicals whose liquid cargo tanks are required to be inerted or whose closed cup flash point is below 60°C as required by Chapter 17 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, and bulk liquefied natural gas and other dangerous goods.

The authority also said all shipping companies should continue to improve the safety management system for dangerous goods on board ships, strengthen the management of dangerous goods booking, strictly review cargo safety technical information, and strengthen the management of safe operations during ship navigation, anchoring and operation. 

 

Photo credit: Screengrab from Weibo
Published: 12 August, 2024 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Incident

MPA ‘deeply concerned’ over projectile strike on Singapore-registered ship in Hormuz Strait

Container ship “Ever Lovely” sustained minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz on 25 June at about 10pm (Singapore Time).
Admin

Published

3 days ago

on

June 29, 2026

By

Container ship “Ever Lovely”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (26 June) said the Singapore-registered container ship Ever Lovely sustained minor damage to the bridge area from an unknown projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz on 25 June at about 10pm (Singapore Time). 

The vessel has since completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz and is proceeding on its voyage.

“All 21 crew members are safe. There are no Singaporeans onboard,” MPA said in a statement. 

MPA said it will continue to remain in close contact with the vessel’s management company and provide the necessary assistance.

“MPA is deeply concerned about the incident, which was unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law,” it added.

“All actions affecting international shipping must fully comply with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and not endanger the safety of seafarers and ships at sea.”

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Michael Schindler
Published: 29 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Incident

IMO announces large scale evacuation plan for stranded ships, seafarers in Strait of Hormuz

IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez said it marked a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.
Admin

Published

1 week ago

on

June 24, 2026

By

IMO

The International Maritime Organization on Tuesday (23 June) said it will begin implementing the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. 

This comes following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States. 

In welcoming the peace agreement, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez said it marked a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.

“This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry,” he said in a statement. 

“We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations.

“We remain fully committed to ensuring the safety of seafarers and the continuity of global trade.”

 

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 24 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Incident

UK forces intercept suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel “SMYRTOS” was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency.

Admin

Published

2 weeks ago

on

June 16, 2026

By

UK forces intercept suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

British Armed Forces on Sunday (14 June) boarded a sanctioned oil tanker, suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, in the English Channel, according to the Ministry of Defence. 

In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency.

The UK’s Prime Minister agreed in March that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law.

The SMYRTOS will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.

UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.

“I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The operation builds on recent support provided by the UK to its allies to interdict shadow fleet vessels, which included RAF and Royal Navy capabilities supporting US and French operations. The operation was conducted in close coordination with the French.

The UK has sanctioned almost 600 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date.

 

Photo credit: Ministry of Defence
Published: 16 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending