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CONTAINER SHIP FIRE FREQUENCY CONTINUES TO RISE AND VANTAGE LOGISTICS’ DG RISK CONTROL SOLUTION
According to the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG P&I Clubs), a container ship fire now occurs, on average, every 10 days. At the same time, performance data published by the Container Ship Safety Forum (CSSF) indicates that the fire frequency within its member fleet has increased for three consecutive years.
These figures highlight that fire remains one of the most significant risks facing the container shipping industry. While shipboard fires can result from a variety of factors, effective risk management increasingly begins long before cargo is loaded – particularly for Dangerous Goods (DG).
Container Ship Fire Frequency: Continue to Challenge Container Shipping
CSSF’s 2025 Performance Report shows that the fire frequency within its member fleet increased from 0.07 incidents per 1,000 vessel management days in 2022 to 0.15 in 2025, reflecting a consistent upward trend over the past three years.
Năm
Số sự cố trên 1.000 ngày quản lý tàu
2022
0,07
2023
0,12
2024
0,14
2025
0,15
Note: These figures apply only to CSSF member fleets and do not represent the entire container shipping market
Several major incidents in recent years have further demonstrated the complexity of managing fires involving containerised cargo:
Fremantle Highway (July 2023) – The vehicle carrier Fremantle Highway caught fire off the coast of the Netherlands. Thick smoke, intense heat, and the vessel’s offshore location complicated evacuation and emergency response efforts
Source: gCaptain
Grande Costa d’Avorio (July 2023) – A fire occurred during cargo operations at the Port of Newark, United States, highlighting the fire risks associated with cargo handling and maritime logistics
Source: Fortune
Maersk Frankfurt (July 2024) – A container ship caught fire off the west coast of India, requiring an extensive firefighting and salvage operation
Source: Port News
YM Mobility (August 2024) – An explosion and fire occurred in the container area while the vessel was berthed at Ningbo Port, China
Source: WWD
WAN HAI 503 (June 2025) – A major container fire broke out off the coast of Kerala, India. According to local authorities, the vessel was carrying 143 Dangerous Goods (DG) containers across multiple hazard classes, significantly increasing the complexity of firefighting operations
Source: Indian Coast Guard
Although these incidents occurred in different regions and involved different types of vessels, they collectively illustrate that shipboard fires remain an ongoing challenge for the global shipping industry.
Common Causes and Challenges in Managing Dangerous Goods (DG)
2.1 Common Causes
Container ship fires can result from a wide range of factors. According to reports published by international maritime organisations and marine insurers, the most commonly identified contributing factors include:
Technical failures involving the vessel, such as the engine room, fuel systems or electrical equipment.
Risks arising during cargo preparation and transportation, including inadequate packaging, incorrect marking and labelling, improper loading or cargo securing, as well as unsuitable temperature conditions or physical impact during transit.
Misdeclared or undeclared Dangerous Goods (DG), particularly chemicals and products containing lithium-ion batteries.
Incomplete or inaccurate technical information – such as the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), UN Number, Proper Shipping Name, hazard class, Packing Group or Flash Point – which may prevent shipping lines and other parties from applying the appropriate cargo acceptance requirements, stowage arrangements and safety measures.
In addition, according to CSSF statistics, approximately 57% of reported fire incidents were recorded in deck and accommodation areas. However, the location where a fire is detected should not be interpreted as its root cause. International maritime organisations and marine insurers continue to warn that the misdeclaration or non-declaration of Dangerous Goods remains one of the factors that can increase fire risks and make emergency response efforts significantly more complex.
2.2 Challenges in managing DG
Managing Dangerous Goods also presents additional compliance challenges.
While the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code provides the global framework for transporting DG by sea, individual countries, ports and ocean carriers may impose additional acceptance requirements or operational restrictions. As a result, shippers must comply not only with international regulations but also with carrier-specific and destination-specific requirements, which may vary across trade lanes.
Once a fire develops aboard a large container vessel, locating the affected container, identifying the nature of the cargo and selecting the appropriate firefighting strategy become extremely difficult. If Dangerous Goods have been misdeclared or insufficiently declared, emergency responders may lack the critical information required to assess the hazard and implement appropriate response measures, further increasing the complexity of the incident.
For this reason, many industry experts consider accurate cargo declaration and early risk identification to be among the most effective preventive measures within the logistics chain.
Vantage Logistics’ DG Risk Control Solution
At Vantage Logistics, risk management begins well before a container reaches the port. Our DG handling process focuses on identifying and controlling potential risks during the documentation and cargo preparation stage, helping customers improve compliance and minimise avoidable operational issues.
Our DG review process includes:
Reviewing product composition, technical specifications and hazard classification.
Verifying Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and supporting technical documentation.
Confirming UN Number, Proper Shipping Name, hazard class, Packing Group and other regulatory information.
Checking cargo acceptance requirements based on the selected carrier, service route and applicable regulations.
Reviewing packaging, marking and labelling requirements in accordance with the IMDG Code and carrier-specific requirements.
Advising on appropriate transportation solutions based on cargo characteristics.
Coordinating documentation and shipment implementation within the agreed service scope.
Final cargo acceptance remains subject to the nature of the cargo, technical documentation, applicable regulations and each carrier’s acceptance policy. However, when information is prepared accurately from the outset, the cargo review process becomes more transparent, operational decisions can be made more efficiently, and appropriate safety measures can be implemented throughout the logistics chain.
For Vantage Logistics, delivering a shipment safely is just as important as delivering it on time. Our objective is not simply to respond to risks after an incident occurs, but to help customers identify and reduce preventable risks before cargo enters the transportation process.
Conclusion
As container ship fire incidents continue to challenge the maritime industry and Dangerous Goods regulations become increasingly stringent, accurate cargo declaration and comprehensive technical documentation are more important than ever. Proper preparation not only supports regulatory compliance but also enables carriers and logistics partners to apply the appropriate safety measures throughout the transport chain.
If your business is planning to ship chemicals, lithium-ion batteries or other Dangerous Goods, contact Vantage Logistics during the planning stage. Our team can assist with documentation review, cargo acceptance requirements and transportation planning before your shipment is booked.
Contact Vantage Logistics for tailored transport solutions and competitive quotations.
Please provide details on cargo type, market, origin, destination, and estimated timeline.
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