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Massive blast on Yang Ming container ship in Ningbo

Huge explosion ripped through the container vessel YM Mobility berthed at Ningo-Zhoushan port on Friday afternoon.

Marcus Hand, Editor

August 9, 2024

Footage from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV posted on YouTube showed smoke billowing from container close to the bow of the vessel shortly before a massive explosion.

Read the latest update here

According to state news agency Xinhua a powerful explosion from the container ship hit the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan at 1-40pm on Friday 9 August. It said that no casualties or injuries had been reported.

A statement from shipowner Yang Ming said the “situation was now under control” and all crew on board the container ship had been safely evacuated.

The Taiwanese shipping company said the incident was under investigation but pointed to dangerous goods as the cause.

“Preliminary findings suggest that an explosion occurred in a container loaded with dangerous goods on board. According to the shipper's declaration, the container was a reefer used as a substitute for a dry container, without requiring power connection,” Yang Ming said.

The 6,589 teu, 2011-built YM Mobility is flagged with Liberia and deployed on the company’s Far East – Middle East CGX service.

Ningbo-Zhoushan is the world’s third largest container port handling 33.4 million teu in 2023. There are no details on any impact to port operations.

 

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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