West P&I: Fire incidents to containers that contained charcoal/carbon

The West P&I Club has noted a number of recent container fire incidents related to containers which were declared as miscellaneous items but actually contained charcoal/carbon. This is a commodity liable to spontaneous combustion.

As James Oliver, Loss Prevention Officer, West P&I Club explains, these containers were below deck, and when fires broke out, there was considerable damage caused to the vessel and other cargo by the fire and the water used to extinguish the fire.

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The vessels’ CO2 system assisted in putting the fires out. Fire experts have also advised that they are aware of numerous other fires in containers of charcoal tablets in recent months.

The fires have been caused by containers said to contain “tablets for water pipe” and “hookah accessories”, which are not listed within the IMDG Code, but are actually a form of charcoal/carbon, which is listed in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code as hazardous cargo.

What is more, according to Mr. Oliver, charcoal is also used in tablet form for water-pipes used for smoking, including Nargila, Shisha or Hookah pipes. This type of charcoal may be manufactured with some flammable solid inside, resulting in lower ignition temperature.

If charcoal/carbon is declared as non-hazardous, then a certificate must be provided by the shipper advising that correct sampling has been performed and it has passed a self-heating test from a laboratory approved by the Competent Authority

said the West P&I Club, adding that in the cases it has experienced, the cargo has no declaration other than tablets for water pipe, and/or hookah accessories.

There is no indication on the bills of lading and the cargo manifest that the cargo is charcoal/carbon or whether is a hazardous cargo. This may constitute a misdeclaration and attract liability to the shippers and/or charterers of the vessel when liner bills of lading are issued

Charcoal/carbon is a black residue, consisting of carbon and any remaining ash obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. It is a self-heating substance – that is to say, a product which, in contact with air and without an energy supply, is liable to self-heating. Such a self-heating reaction may result in extensive heat development and fire.