Breaking News: Intense Explosion at PortMiami!

According to local news reports, on November 29, a?vehicle inside a shipping?container erupted?in flames at PortMiami, which?caused nearby apartments to “shake”.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were called out to a fire at a cargo yard at approximately 11:40 am, where they confronted the flame-ridden container.

According to the witnesses?who had informed the?media,?multiple explosions resulting from the fire, resulting in?nearby apartments to "shake." Firefighters extinguished the flames upon arriving on-site, successfully limiting the damage and preventing further spread.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, no injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Frequent Incidents of Port Explosions

In recent years, incidents of explosions at ports have become increasingly common. On June 5, 2022, a severe fire broke out at a container yard near the port of Chittagong in southern Bangladesh, leading to explosions of chemical containers and resulting in at least 49 deaths and over 300 injuries. Between 1,000 and 1,300 fully loaded containers were burned or damaged in the fire.

Hundreds of firefighters responded to the scene, but the intense flames and chemical explosions made rescue efforts extremely challenging. The fire was not fully controlled until the following morning, and there were still sporadic flare-ups.

This incident not only caused significant loss of life and property but also severely impacted trade and logistics in Bangladesh.?The fire was exacerbated by the port container yard operator incorrectly labeling chemical products, leading to misjudgment by firefighters and subsequent chemical explosions that intensified the?blaze. What’s worse, the yard operator clearly failed to adhere to fire safety regulations, with only a few fire extinguishers found in the chemical storage area.

On March 6, 2018, a cargo ship carrying 7,860 containers caught fire while sailing from Singapore to the Suez Canal, resulting in one crew member's death and four others missing.

The fire broke out on a deck containing chemicals, so the crew had to evacuate. The blaze was not brought under control, resulting in the destruction of many containers and posing risks to others.

The severity of the fire made it impossible for investigators to determine the exact cause, but it was most likely triggered by a batch of sodium dichloroisocyanurate, a substance found in dry bleach, dishwashing agents, cleaning products, pool disinfectants, and wastewater treatment products.

The fire caused delays in shipping schedules, affecting multiple shipping companies, and resulted in severe losses for thousands of foreign trade and logistics enterprises.

In response to recent incidents, all shipping companies and ports have intensified efforts to crack down on and penalize violations related to hazardous materials. Customs procedures for the importation of hazardous materials have also become stricter.

Customs authorities around the world enforce strict regulatory systems for the import of dangerous goods. Companies must not only comply with the requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code but also provide detailed declaration information and necessary proof documents. Taking the United States as an example, here is the customs declaration process for imports into the United States:

U.S. Customs Declaration Process

I. Classification and Declaration Requirements for Hazardous Materials

Accurate Classification: In accordance with the IMDG Code, hazardous materials?are divided into multiple categories, such as explosives, flammable liquids, oxidizers, toxic substances, radioactive materials, etc. Companies need to accurately determine the category of the goods based on their actual properties and declare them in accordance with the corresponding regulations. For example, a certain type of flammable liquid may be classified as Class 3 dangerous goods under the IMDG Code, with specific packaging, labeling, and transportation requirements.

Detailed Declaration: When declaring, companies should provide complete information about the goods, including but not limited to the name of the product, UN number (United Nations Dangerous Goods Number), category, quantity, packaging method, and hazard description. This information directly affects the efficiency of customs inspection and the speed of cargo clearance. In particular, the UN number is an important basis for identifying dangerous goods, and customs officers will use this number to check the?danger?and transportation requirements of the goods.

II. Prohibited Types of Cargo for Shipment

U.S. Customs has clearly listed some types of cargo that are prohibited from being shipped, which usually have high safety risks or are unlicensed chemicals. For example, certain types of fireworks, unlicensed pesticides, and some toxic chemicals are all prohibited from import. Companies must confirm whether their goods fall within the scope of prohibited goods before exporting to avoid returns, fines, or even legal disputes.

III. Preparing Necessary Documentation

To ensure the compliance of hazardous materials?exports, companies need to prepare a series of documents. These documents include but are not limited to:

Dangerous Goods Certificate: For goods that require a Dangerous Goods Certificate, companies should contact relevant departments or institutions in advance to handle the corresponding documents. The Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate is a document that proves the packaging of the goods complies with the requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods and is an important voucher during customs inspection.

MSDS Report: The MSDS report is a document that describes the physical and chemical properties of dangerous goods and methods for safe handling. It lists key information such as the hazards of the goods, first aid measures, firefighting measures, and emergency handling of spills. Companies should provide a complete MSDS report when exporting dangerous goods for customs reference.

Transportation Contracts and Insurance Policies: The transportation contract signed between the company and the carrier, as well as the insurance policy purchased for the goods, are also important proof documents. They not only prove the legal relationship between the company and the carrier but also provide safety assurance for the goods during transportation.

Special Permits: For certain special types of dangerous goods, such as radioactive materials and highly toxic chemicals, companies may also need to obtain special permits for export. These permits are usually issued by relevant departments, and companies must confirm whether they have been completed before exporting.

IV. Cooperating with Customs Inspection

After the goods arrive at the U.S. port, customs officers will inspect them. To ensure a smooth inspection process, companies need to be prepared:

Schedule in Advance: Before the goods arrive at the port, companies should contact customs in advance to schedule the inspection time. This helps customs officers to arrange their work plans reasonably and improve inspection efficiency.

On-Site Cooperation: During the inspection process, companies should assign a dedicated person to cooperate with customs. This person should be familiar with the nature, packaging, and transportation requirements of the goods and be able to quickly and accurately answer questions from customs officers. At the same time, companies should ensure that the goods are well packaged and clearly labeled to facilitate customs officers in completing the inspection work quickly and accurately.

Timely Communication: During the inspection process, if there are any problems or questions, companies should actively communicate with customs. Through timely communication, companies can understand the inspection requirements and standards of customs and take corresponding measures to solve problems. This helps to avoid delays in customs clearance due to misunderstandings or poor communication.

In the current?globalized trade environment, the safe transportation of dangerous goods is crucial for ensuring personnel safety, environmental protection, and maintaining the reputation of enterprises. Compliant transportation of dangerous goods can not only prevent potential catastrophic accidents, reducing casualties and property damage, but also ensure the legal operation of businesses, avoiding legal responsibilities and economic losses due to non-compliant operations. Therefore, companies must strictly adhere to relevant international and domestic laws and regulations to ensure the safety and compliance of dangerous goods transportation, promoting a safer and more sustainable global trade environment.