Policy & Compliance
Reactive hazards Cargoes of concern: hidden dangers The Cargo Integrity Group has recently highlighted a number of cargoes of concern and, in particular, the hidden dangers of fi re-initiating cargoes Spill or leak risks Improper packing consequences
• Charcoal/carbon • Calcium hypochlorite • Lithium-ion batteries • Cotton and wool • Fishmeal and krill • Seed cake
• Hides and skins • Wine • Bitumen • Cocoa butter • Waste – recycled engines and engine parts • Vegetable and other oils, particularly when packed in flexitanks
• Logs and timber • Steel coils • Marble and granite
T he Cargo Integrity Group handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance. The Bureau International des Containers, the Container Owners Association, FIATA, the Global Shippers Forum, ICHCA, TT Club and the World Shipping Council are co-operating on a range of brings together international freight transport and cargo activities to further the adoption and implementation of crucial safety practices and regulations. The group has identified a number of cargoes, commonly carried in containers, that under certain conditions can cause dangerous incidents. It urges everyone handling these goods to follow all applicable regulations, the CTU Code and industry best practices. Cargoes of concern Fifteen such ‘cargoes of concern’ have been identified that are commonly transported by sea and intermodally, which have been categorised as: • Reactive hazards – cargoes that can catch fire and cause conditions. They are generally subject to Dangerous Goods regulations. • Spill or leak risks – these commodities can present a risk if not packed properly or if they are damaged. Spills or leaks from these cargoes can harm the health of people cleaning up the spill as well as the environment. • Improper packing consequences – cargoes that are poorly or incorrectly packed or secured in the container can lead to injuries to personnel or significant damage and casualties under certain
damage to nearby containers, property or other cargo. Such incidents can cause severe accidents at sea or on land, such as truck rollovers and train derailments. The list is based on data from, among other sources: the claims history of leading freight insurance provider TT Club; a report prepared by the International Cargo submitted to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on incidents involving dangerous goods on ships or in ports; and from the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) which collates information provided by its members on incidents involving dangerous cargo. Hidden dangers of fi re-initiating cargoes Following the initial information identifying cargoes of concern, the Cargo Integrity Group expanded on those cargoes in the Reactive Hazards category, that can catch fire and cause significant damage and casualties under certain conditions. Circumstances created by an alignment of mistakes, Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA) and oversights, or failed controls can turn a minor incident into a major event. Many of the cargoes in this category already fall within the scope of dangerous goods regulations. These regulations start
from the premise that the transport of dangerous goods is prohibited – except in accordance with the details of the regulations. Such cargoes with reactive hazards include: Calcium hypochlorite, a powerful oxidiser prone to rapid decomposition. In low concentrations, the chlorine content is used as a water cleanser and disinfectant, such as household bleach and in swimming pool maintenance. Decomposition is accelerated by higher temperatures and by contamination and can result in an exothermic reaction. Charcoal: concerns include, among others, charcoal that is intended for burning on barbecues, shisha pipes, etc – sometimes having been treated with accelerants to assist ignition. There has been lengthy debate at the IMO to fashion a revised safety framework for transport by sea, which will become mandatory from January 2026. This will remove an unreliable test regime and require that charcoal is always declared as dangerous goods. Cotton and wool, fi shmeal and krill and seed cake are perhaps less in the public eye, but also prone to self-heating and fire, where integrity and care are required both to ensure compliance and maintain safety during transport. Lithium-ion battery hazards are becoming known, but many are emergent, not least as science
“ The group has identified a number of cargoes, commonly carried in containers, that under certain conditions can cause dangerous incidents
16 | September 2025
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