The Hazworld.com website recently carried an article on the problems that can arise when cargoes are fumigated. Readers with good memories may remember that TT Talk addressed this issue in Editions 17 and 19, published in January and March 2002 respectively. The Hazworld article was prompted by a circular issued by the TT Club's sister club, the UK Pandi Club, following a survey of containers that had recently been carried out in Rotterdam.
In recent years at least six big container ships have been seriously damaged by major fires or explosions. Apart from the loss of life and injury to seafarers, each accident caused millions of dollars of damages. Experts attribute most of these incidents to hazardous materials that were loaded into containers but not declared to the carriers.
Mr Zahid Mehmood, the Manager of Star Logistics International, freight forwarders in Lahore, has sent us the following item on the dangers of accepting consignments from "unknown" shippers. "I read your TT Talk Edition regularly and I wish to share an incident with you, which I have seen at Lahore Airport. Please also share this with your readers so that they can also be careful about booking freight from "unknown" shippers.
