Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, July 11, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    IMO piracy

    IMO Piracy Report: Twenty five incidents during May 2025

    Dryad Global

    Dryad Global: Geopolitical tensions continue to shape maritime landscape

    ireland drug seizure

    Ireland’s largest drug smuggling plot leads to eight men in jail

    limpet mines tankers

    Greek tanker fleet boosts security amid limpet mine fears

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

    clean air act

    California updates ballast rules for water from low salinity areas

    biofuels

    India’s DGS issues biofuel bunkering guidelines

    biofuel

    Companies sign deal to advance crude lignin oil biofuel

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Panama Canal

    Panama Canal reports increase in transits despite dry season

    UNCTAD

    UNCTAD: Global trade endures policy changes and uncertainty

    Eternity C

    Watch: Eternity C sinks in the Red Sea following Houthi attack

    newbuildings xclusiv shipbrokers

    Xclusiv Shipbrokers: Newbuilding momentum slows sharply in 2025

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    IMO piracy

    IMO Piracy Report: Twenty five incidents during May 2025

    Dryad Global

    Dryad Global: Geopolitical tensions continue to shape maritime landscape

    ireland drug seizure

    Ireland’s largest drug smuggling plot leads to eight men in jail

    limpet mines tankers

    Greek tanker fleet boosts security amid limpet mine fears

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

    clean air act

    California updates ballast rules for water from low salinity areas

    biofuels

    India’s DGS issues biofuel bunkering guidelines

    biofuel

    Companies sign deal to advance crude lignin oil biofuel

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Panama Canal

    Panama Canal reports increase in transits despite dry season

    UNCTAD

    UNCTAD: Global trade endures policy changes and uncertainty

    Eternity C

    Watch: Eternity C sinks in the Red Sea following Houthi attack

    newbuildings xclusiv shipbrokers

    Xclusiv Shipbrokers: Newbuilding momentum slows sharply in 2025

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Lessons learned: Multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigation

by The Editorial Team
March 19, 2021
in Accidents, Safety Parent
explosion after fumigation

Above image is used for illustration purposes only / Credit: Swedish Club

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

As part of its recently launched casebook containing safety lessons learned from maritime incidents, the Swedish Club describes a case of multiple explosions onboard a bulk carrier, caused by cargo fumigation.

The incident

A bulk carrier had loaded yellow corn in all cargo holds up to the hatch coamings. After the loading was complete, fumigation technicians came onboard and fumigated the cargo with fumitoxin pellets. As per the cargo documentation, the fumigation pellets were required to be applied subsurface.

In this instance, the technicians poured the pellets from flasks while walking on the hatch coamings or hatch covers. This work took a little more than an hour and, afterwards, all the cargo hatches were closed and the vessel sailed.

RelatedNews

Greek tanker fleet boosts security amid limpet mine fears

Lessons learned: Ensure there are compatible adapters onboard

A couple of hours later, an explosion occurred in one of the holds. The crew noted that the hatch covers had moved slightly and blue gray smoke was seen coming from under the edges.

About an hour later, another explosion occurred in a second hold, and a couple of minutes later an explosion occurred a third. There were explosions in the remaining holds shortly afterwards.

 See also: Overview of cargo fumigation regulatory landscape

 

Probable cause

Fumitoxin pellets and similar fumigants are made up of around 55% aluminium phosphide which reacts with water to produce phosphine, an extremely toxic and effective fumigant. Phosphine gas will form an explosive mixture when mixed with air at a concentration exceeding around 1.8% to 2% by volume (the lower flammable limit).

The concentration of phosphine in the air in each of the holds exceeded this lower flammable limit.

The fumigant pellets in each hold had not been distributed across the entire cargo surface, or applied to the subsurface, but had been applied by simply pouring the pellets on top of the cargo.

This method of application had permitted the accumulation of the pellets in limited areas and promoted a relatively rapid reaction of the pellets with moisture, generating concentrations of phosphine gas above the lower flammable limit, which lead to the explosions.

 

Lessons learned

  • The manager should provide training to the crew to ensure that the crew is aware of the requirements and procedures for the fumigation operation. The crew need to ensure that the fumigation pellets are distributed as per the cargo documents.
  • Agricultural products in bulk may be fumigated in ships’ holds to prevent insect infestation. Solid aluminium phosphide (or similar) is often used for fumigation. Aluminium phosphide reacts with water vapour (humidity) in air to produce phosphine, a toxic and flammable gas, which kills insects. Heat is also given off during the reaction. The solid fumigant may be applied in fabric ‘socks’ or as pellets on the surface, just before closing holds. Holds are then kept closed for a period before ventilating. People must keep out of holds that are being fumigated due to the toxic fumigant.
  • If there is an excessive amount of fumigant in one place, or if the fumigant is in contact with liquid water e.g. from sweating or condensation, then the fumigant can react too quickly. This can evolve excessive heat and lead to ignition of cargo and/or packaging such as bags or paper placed over the top of the cargo. Under certain conditions the fumigant gas itself may ignite, producing an explosion.

It is important that fumigant is applied according to the correct instructions. As holds are always un-ventilated for a time after fumigation, there may be a risk of excessive condensation, which can produce sweating or dripping. This can lead to cargo damage as well as the fire and explosion risks mentioned above. The weather conditions and cargo conditions, such as moisture content, therefore need to be considered properly before fumigation, which is often carried out by specialist companies.

Explore Swedish’s Club casebook here

Lessons learned: Multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigationLessons learned: Multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigation
Lessons learned: Multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigationLessons learned: Multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigation
Tags: explosionfumigationlessons learnedsmSwedish Club
Previous Post

Environmental Defense Fund joins decarbonization research center

Next Post

Standard Club’s new guides tackle key loss prevention challenges

SUGGESTED FOR YOU

Magic Seas
Videos

Watch: Yemen’s Houthi attack on bulk carrier in the Red Sea

July 9, 2025
Lessons learned: Never cross the gantry crane rails while the crane is in use
Accidents

Lessons learned: Faults in design should be considered

July 8, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Always check to monitor or identify pressure

July 8, 2025
Gujarat tanker
Accidents

Tanker explosion off Gujarat coast forces crew to abandon ship

July 7, 2025
Dryad Global Mediterranean Sea
Security

Dryad Global: Suspected limpet mine attacks in the Mediterranean

July 2, 2025
Dryad Global Mediterranean Sea
Accidents

Tanker explosion in the Mediterranean raises concerns

July 1, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA