Massive blast on Yang Ming container ship in Ningbo

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.

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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.