Following the explosion and fire incident at Shahid Rajee Port, which resulted in significant loss of life, damage to port infrastructure, destruction of a large volume of containerized cargo, severe financial losses to cargo owners and container owners or shipping line, the entire safety, operational, and security protocols of the port have been called into question.
Fires caused by the huge explosion in the commercial port of Bandar Abbas in Iran on the morning of April 26 were spreading three days later,The explosion affected offices belonging to the port, and its intensity was sufficient to cause tremors felt in nearby cities, according to domestic reports. The blast also shattered the glass of buildings several kilometres away from the site of the incident
Casualties & Emergency Response
– The death toll has risen to 70, with 1,210 injured, including 138 seriously hurt. Three Chinese nationals were among the injured.
– Firefighting efforts, aided by Russian aircraft, have contained the blaze as of April 28.
– Schools and offices in Bandar Abbas were closed, and residents were advised to stay indoors due to toxic smoke.
Cause of the Explosion
– Preliminary investigations suggest negligence in handling hazardous chemicals, possibly ammonium perchlorate or sodium perchlorate.
– Iran’s Interior Minister confirmed safety protocol failures, stating chemicals should have been dispersed to prevent such a disaster.
– The Defense Ministry denied claims of military-related cargo, calling them “enemy psyops”.
Economic & Operational Impact
– The port, handling 80% of Iran’s container traffic, suspended operations, disrupting trade and risking food shortages. Partial operations have since resumed.
– Oil infrastructure (refineries, pipelines) remains unaffected.
Political Context: The blast occurred during U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman, though no direct link is confirmed.
In light of this incident, a comprehensive review of safety, operational, and security protocols across all ports will be imperative. Naturally, part of these revised protocols and stricter measures will apply to ship owners and cargo owners as well. The approach and procedures for handling dangerous goods on vessels entering Shahid Rajee Port will be impacted, and regulations concerning the transportation and storage of hazardous cargo will undoubtedly be reassessed. Additionally, revisions will be made to cargo declaration processes and container content scanning procedures at ports.
Accordingly, you must prepare your vessel management and personnel to adhere to these upcoming changes. Ensure full compliance with the revised regulations to enhance safety and prevent future incidents.
Key Areas for Immediate Attention
1. Dangerous Goods Handling: Stricter enforcement of hazardous cargo storage and transport regulations in shahid Jejaee port.
2. Cargo Declaration: Enhanced accuracy and transparency in cargo declarations submitted to port authorities.
3. Container Scanning: Mandatory advanced scanning of container contents to verify compliance. 4. Personnel Training: Crew and operational staff must be trained on updated safety and emergency protocols.