This incident information refers to the transportation of fumigated cargoes and how to manage risk resulting from such kind of cargoes. A bulk carrier was carrying a wheat cargo between two ports in Europe. The cargo was fumigated with phosphine gas during the voyage to protect it from insects and rodents. The gas somehow reached the crew’s cabins and a 22-year-old Latvian crew member died from exposure to the gas.
The problem of hazardous chemicals in shipping containers has become a topic of major concern over the last 10 years. The combination of sealed containers and long journey times means that hazardous chemicals can build to a level that would never normally be encountered in domestic or industrial settings. The problem is exacerbated by the massive variety in chemicals involved, the origin of many containers in countries with less strict health and safety controls, and the often poor documentation accompanying the containers.
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Officer of the Watch 