Wood chips refer to natural wood mechanically cut into business card-sized pieces, primarily used in the production of artificial boards, pulp, and fiberboard. Common small wood chips can behave abnormally during maritime transport, sometimes even turning into “killers.”
The following real cases will send chills down our spines!
I. Accident Cases
1. In October 2024, while the bulk carrier “H” was navigating with a cargo of wood chips, the boatswain, without the captain’s permission and without on-site supervision,擅自 entered the bottom of the port rear entrance of cargo hold No. 3 to work. He immediately fell into a coma and died despite all rescue efforts. Investigation revealed that the ship did not manage the wood chips as dangerous cargo, and there were serious deficiencies in the ship’s safety management. The accident exposed that personnel were unaware of the dangerous nature of the cargo and failed to strictly implement key safety measures such as oxygen and explosive gas testing and safety protection.
2. In October 2024, during the unloading of eucalyptus wood chips from the “Hexing XX” vessel at Ningbo Port, boatswain Cao illegally entered the manhole of cargo hold No. 2 to carry out work. He quickly fell into a coma after entering and ultimately died. Investigation found that a severely oxygen-deficient environment had formed in the cargo hold area. The ship and shore did not implement the safety management requirements for dangerous wood chip cargo, failed to carry out safety measures such as advance ventilation and gas detection, safety inspections were perfunctory, and there was no supervision or protection during the operation, leading to the casualty accident.
3. In October 2024, while an inland river vessel was loading eucalyptus wood chips in Qingyuan waters, a crew member suddenly fainted while entering the stern sewage collection tank for cleaning operations. The chief officer, without taking any protective measures, blindly attempted a rescue and also fainted. Both ultimately died. Investigation revealed that the accident compartment was connected to the cargo hold, and the wood chips continuously consumed oxygen, causing extreme oxygen deficiency in the compartment. The crew entered the enclosed space without ventilation or gas detection and without wearing protective equipment. Coupled with the blind rescue attempt, this directly led to the escalation of casualties.
4. In August 2023, during wood chip trimming and unloading operations on the “Rong X” vessel at Rizhao Port, two workers were poisoned and injured due to the accumulation of harmful gases in the cargo hold. Investigation found that the ship did not strictly implement safety management measures for the transport of dangerous wood chip cargo, failed to carry out adequate ventilation and gas detection before entering the hold, and measures such as on-site safety supervision and personal protection were inadequate, ultimately resulting in the personal injury accident.
5. In March 2026, while the Anhui vessel “Wan XX” was navigating with a cargo of wood shavings in the waters of Tongling, Anhui section of the Yangtze River, two crew members died from asphyxiation and poisoning in the cofferdam between the engine room and cargo hold. Investigation suggested the cause was likely that the wood shavings, upon contact with water, bred fungi. During fungal metabolism, oxygen in the cofferdam was continuously consumed and carbon monoxide gas was produced, leading to the crew’s asphyxiation and poisoning deaths.
After reading the above cases, we might ask: Are wood chips transported by sea still just wood chips?
II. Hazardous Characteristics of Wood Chips in Maritime Transport
According to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code), wood chips belong to Group B solid bulk cargoes, classified as MHB (Materials Hazardous only in Bulk), meaning they are dangerous only when transported in bulk. Their hazards are mainly manifested as:
Firstly, some wood chip cargoes undergo oxidation, leading to oxygen depletion and increased carbon dioxide in the cargo space and adjacent spaces. Wood chips can completely deplete the oxygen in a cargo hold within 48 hours, creating an oxygen-deficient environment in the hold and adjacent compartments. Ship personnel entering such compartments without protective gear may experience breathing difficulties, coma, or other dangerous conditions.
Secondly, they have flammable and self-heating characteristics. Wood chip cargoes with a moisture content of 15% or more have a low fire risk, but as the moisture content decreases, the fire risk increases. When dry, wood chips can be easily ignited by external ignition sources. During long voyages, due to the ship’s motion, wood chip cargo can shift and accumulate, easily forming enclosed spaces where heat accumulates. If heat cannot be effectively dissipated and continues to build up, there is a risk of spontaneous combustion.
Thirdly, wood chips can be ignited by friction and also pose a risk of dust explosion. During loading and unloading operations, large amounts of wood dust are generated. In dry weather, dust settling on the deck dries quickly, forming flammable dust particles. Once exposed to open flames or heat sources, this dust can easily cause dust fires or combustion accidents.
III. Causes of Accidents
Firstly, insufficient awareness of the risks of wood chip transport. As a typical oxygen-depleting bulk cargo, wood chips easily create a fatally hypoxic environment. The involved ships and companies lacked adequate understanding of the risk characteristics of wood chips during transport, failed to develop targeted safety management measures and relevant work procedures based on the cargo’s hazardous nature, did not provide necessary training to crew members, and did not supervise the implementation of relevant work procedures for entering relevant spaces, leading to the accidents.
Secondly, relevant operational procedures were not effectively implemented. Crew members were not well-trained, lacked awareness of the dangers of entering enclosed spaces, and were unfamiliar with the operational procedures to be followed when entering enclosed spaces or carrying wood chip cargo. Before entering confined spaces connected to the cargo hold, workers did not conduct safety tests for oxygen, explosive gases, or toxic gases, failing to detect dangerous conditions like oxygen deficiency in the hold in time. Simultaneously, no dedicated personnel were assigned for on-site supervision during the operation, meaning that if personnel got into trouble, they could not be discovered in time for effective rescue. Multiple violations directly led to the accidents.
Thirdly, weak emergency response capabilities. Ship emergency plans were inadequate, emergency drills were ineffective, and crew members lacked scientific rescue skills. After accidents occurred, on-site personnel carried out blind rescues, entering the holds rashly without wearing protective equipment, causing rescuers to also get into trouble and worsening the casualties. The coordination mechanism between ship and port was poor; risk identification, gas detection, and safety briefings were not conducted jointly before operations. Responsibility boundaries were unclear, prevention and control measures were disconnected, and effective closed-loop management was not formed.
IV. Management Recommendations
1. Shipping companies should fulfill their primary responsibility for production safety. Shipping enterprises must strictly follow the requirements of the “Guide for Shipping Enterprises to Fulfill Primary Responsibility for Production Safety (Version 1.0)”, the “Work Guidelines for Shipping Enterprises Transporting Dangerous Goods (Version 1.0)”, and other “One Guide, Six Guidelines” documents. They should improve their safety management systems, clearly define safety management measures for wood chip transport, and strengthen requirements for gas monitoring during wood chip transport and control of entry into enclosed spaces. Enhance personnel training, conduct specialized training on enclosed space operations, gas detection, emergency protection, and scientific rescue to improve crew members’ comprehensive ability to manage wood chip cargo. Strengthen hazard identification, carefully review the procedures for entering enclosed spaces on ships, and resolutely eliminate violations such as risky operations.
2. Shippers should properly submit cargo information. Shippers must truthfully submit complete and detailed cargo information to the carrier, specifying the proper shipping name, type, quantity, hazardous nature of the dangerous goods being shipped, protective measures to be taken, and emergency response measures in case of danger. Upon receiving the cargo information, the carrier should carefully verify the relevant details. If no cargo information is received or the information clearly does not match the actual cargo, the carrier has the right to refuse acceptance and loading.
3. Carriers should properly manage cargo transport. Before loading, thoroughly inspect the watertightness of cargo holds, the closing status of hatch covers, the sealing of manholes and sounding pipes, and the condition of bilge wells in the cargo hold bottom to prevent water ingress or bilge water accumulation that could cause cargo decay and gas production. Cargo holds should be loaded to a reasonable full capacity and trimmed evenly to reduce cargo shifting and air accumulation. Ventilation should not be carried out during the voyage. In dry weather, dust falling on the deck dries quickly and becomes easily ignitable; appropriate measures, such as keeping away from ignition sources, must be taken to prevent fire.
4. Crew members must strictly implement gas detection and confined space entry requirements. Use calibrated and certified oxygen and toxic gas detection equipment as required. Before entering cargo holds and adjacent enclosed spaces, it is mandatory to strictly follow the principle of “ventilate first, then test, then enter,” ensuring oxygen content meets standards and the concentration of toxic gases like carbon monoxide does not exceed limits. Entry is absolutely prohibited if conditions are not met. Ventilate the cargo hold or adjacent enclosed spaces and re-measure after an appropriate interval. Entry into these spaces requires approval from the person in charge of the operation. Wear and activate an oxygen meter, with dedicated personnel supervising and full protection throughout. In emergencies, only trained personnel wearing protective equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus are permitted to enter under the supervision of management personnel. Resolutely prohibit entry into holds without protection, without supervision, or in violation of regulations.
Wood chips, a small cargo type not well-known in the dangerous goods sector, present a transport safety issue that is no small matter. Shipping companies, vessels, and crew members should fully recognize the safety risks and potential dangers of ship-borne wood chips, effectively enhance safety awareness, strictly implement the primary responsibility for production safety, and conscientiously follow operating procedures, ensuring every voyage is a safe and reliable journey, protecting the safe return of seafarers.
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