The M.V. Hyundai Fortune, a 64,054 gt. Panama flag container vessel built in 1996, exploded and burned near the Gulf of Aden on a west bound voyage from Singapore to Amsterdam and other European ports. The vessel was carrying approximately 3,250 loaded intermodal containers, including 7 container loads of fireworks from China. Because of the intensity of the initial explosion, original speculation that the fire originated in the bays where the fireworks were stored has been discounted in some circles. Other theories including engine room fire, gas or fuel tank explosion, arson, terrorism, or mine strike. The explosion caused many containers to be blown into the sea. The crew was rescued by a Dutch ship patrolling nearby waters.

Intermodal containers are designed to be moved from ship to trucks to railcars. With the emerging global economy, intermodal containers have become the primary method for moving bulk shipments of hazardous materials internationally. More than 4 million intermodal containers are routinely used to ship both hazardous and non-hazardous materials throughout the world.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established safety standards for ships, their cargo, and operating systems through its International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. In the U.S., Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations covers the transportation of hazardous materials and defines the types of portable tanks, design and construction requirements, special product-related features, and inspection requirements. Despite the industry emphasis on safety, accidents may happen. When containers are moved, they may be dropped. Containers could be broken open on or below decks, or swept overboard during a storm. They could be loaded improperly – incompatible hazardous materials not separated.

The TT Club, the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services who was the insurer for many of the destroyed containers, has expressed concern about the problems of knowing exactly what is loaded in containers. Because some lines now refuse to accept certain chemicals or other potentially unstable freight, there is a possibility of fraud, as some shippers allegedly misdeclare consignments, putting vessels and crews in danger, as well as public safety and emergency response personnel. An explosion and fire in 2003 on board the container ship Sea Elegance, lying off Durban in South Africa, was probably caused by a 20-ton container of undeclared hazardous calcium hypochlorite stowed under deck in the aft hold that self-ignited, then ignited a highly flammable herbicide that was stored in a container next to it. One crew member was killed in that fire.

For information and training on safe response to intermodal container incidents, see Emergency Film Group’s program “Intermodal Containers.” For information on awareness level training for the portside and shipside workers, see the EFG program “Maritime Security.”