A cargo ship operated by Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp caught fire on Friday at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China, one of the busiest ports globally, according to a statement by the company.
Chinese state media earlier reported an explosion at the port, with shockwaves felt up to a kilometer away. Yang Ming Marine Transport confirmed that the fire broke out aboard the YM Mobility while it was docked at the port. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported following the blast, which occurred around 1:40 p.m. local time (0540 GMT), as reported by China’s official Xinhua news agency.
The company stated that prompt firefighting efforts were made at the scene, and the fire was brought under control. All personnel on the ship were safely evacuated.
Footage from China Central Television (CCTV) showed cargo being flung into the air and a plume of black smoke rising from the ship after an explosion among containers near the bow of the Liberian-flagged vessel. The ship, stationed at the port’s Beilun terminal, was carrying hazardous materials, according to the Ningbo Maritime Search and Rescue Centre.
CCTV, citing initial findings from authorities, reported that the ship’s cargo included lithium batteries and tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate, a flammable and explosive organic compound that must be stored below 30°C (86°F).
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Although the ship’s crew and dock workers were unharmed, nearby offices were affected by the blast’s shockwaves, as reported by the state-run Qilu Evening News.
“Our windows were damaged, and part of our canteen’s ceiling collapsed,” a staff member at a company located about one kilometer from the incident site told Qilu Evening News.
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, located in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, is operated by Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co. and serves as a major hub for loading and discharging crude oil.
