Container explodes on Yang Ming ship in Ningbo

One of Yang Ming Marine Transport’s ships suffered an explosion today (9 August) around 1.40 pm local time, while berthed in Ningbo, China.

Video footage taken by office workers in a nearby office building shows smoke billowing from the ship.

The Ningbo Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said the 6,589 TEU YM Mobility was berthed in Ningbo’s Beilun terminal and was carrying hazardous goods.

None of the crew on the 2011-built YM Mobility and the port workers were injured, although office buildings near the port were hit by shockwaves from the blast.

According to EconDB, YM Mobility is deployed to the China-Gulf Express (CGX) service that calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Umm Qasr, Hamad and Jebel Ali. The service is run by Yang Ming, Ocean Network Express (ONE) and HMM.

Yang Ming issued a statement today saying that preliminary findings suggest that an explosion occurred in a container loaded with dangerous goods on board.

The Taiwanese liner operator said, “According to the shipper’s declaration, the container was a reefer used as a substitute for a dry container, without requiring power connection.

“Immediate fire control measures were taken, and the situation is now under control. 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.”

Martina Li
Asia Correspondent