Video: container ship explosion in Chinese port points to dangerous cargo

An explosion in a shipping container on board the Yang Ming-operated YM Mobility has been captured on video in China’s second-largest through port for containerised shipping. 

The explosion on board the 6,500-TEU box ship was captured by what appears to be closed circuit television at the port as well as by eyewitnesses far from the scene in a video that was uploaded to YouTube.

Taiwanese container shipping company Yang Ming released a statement on the incident, saying it is under investigation but preliminary findings point to a container loaded with dangerous goods as the cause.

"According to the shipper’s declaration, the container was a reefer used as a substitute for a dry container, without requiring a power connection. Immediate fire control measures were taken, and the situation is now under control. All crew members have safely evacuated," the Taiwanese company’s statement said.

Yang Ming said its Shanghai-based subsidiary Huan Ming is "actively co-ordinating with the authorities to manage the situation". Yang Ming will provide updates on the vessel’s status, cargo transhipment, and schedule adjustments as further information becomes available.

The post-Panamax container ship, built in 2021, was reportedly berthed at the Ningbo Beilun Phase III Terminal when the blast occurred.

Ningbo-Zhoushan is the second most important container shipping port in China behind Shanghai, handling more than 100,000 TEU each day, according to sector analysts Xeneta.

YM Mobility is currently deployed to Far East to/from Middle East service, CGX. Xeneta data shows average spot rates on the major fronthaul trade from Ningbo to the US West Coast increased by 146% between 30 April and 1 July amid the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea region on container shipping.