Jessica Ng Featured in The Marine Insurer

Fires involving containerised charcoal cargoes remain a serious and persistent issue in the shipping industry, despite longstanding warnings and safety protocols. These incidents are often linked to misdeclared shipments, where charcoal is disguised under various trade names, making it difficult to identify and regulate appropriately. 

In her article, Jessica Ng explores the risks associated with transporting charcoal, a material susceptible to self-heating and spontaneous combustion when exposed to oxygen and moisture. She highlights how improper handling, such as inadequate cooling, poor ventilation, or exposure to heat, can lead to fires, sometimes occurring days or even weeks after shipment. 

Jessica highlights recent changes to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, in particular the removal of Special Provision 925 and the introduction of Special Provision 978. These changes eliminate exemptions that previously allowed certain charcoal products to be shipped as non-dangerous goods. Now, all charcoal must be declared as dangerous cargo, with stringent requirements for temperature control, ventilation, and  pre-shipment treatment. 

Jessica urges shippers and carriers to adopt proactive safety measures before the mandatory enforcement date in 2026, emphasising the importance of accurate declaration, thorough inspections, and adherence to the updated code to mitigate fire risks. 

Jessica Ng is a Senior Associate at Hawkins & Associates, based in our Hong Kong office. With a background in Physical Science and a Master’s degree in Forensic Science from King’s College London, Jessica has been with Hawkins since 2015. She specialises in fire and explosion investigations, contamination assessments, and agricultural cargo claims. Her expertise spans residential and commercial fires, marine incidents, and complex cargo-related cases, including those involving liquefaction and chemical contamination.  

If you need Jessica or any other Hawkins expert to investigate a marine claim, contact us here. 

You can read Jessica’s article on page 61 of The Marine Insurer here:  https://issuu.com/cannonevents/docs/the_marine_insurer_oct_issue_22_