Hazardous Chemical Scare Aboard Containership at Shanghai’s Yangshan Port

Authorities in China responded Wednesday to a dangerous chemical leak on board a containership docked at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, China.

According to reports of the incident, alert workers spotted the clear and colorless chemical leaking from a container that had just been loaded aboard the 6,500 TEU containership MV Puelo.

It was eventually determined that the liquid was cyclohexane, a highly-flammable chemical used in industrial production. Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration reported that the vessel was loaded with about 17 tons of the stuff, and the container was leaking at a rate of about 40 liters per hour.

A HAZMAT crew was brought in to the remove the container and clean up what was spilled.

The Marshall Islands-flagged MV Puelo was built in 2006 and has a length of 304 meters. It is owned by Diana Containerships and on charter to Maersk Line, according to Diana Containerships’ website. 

It goes without saying what could have happened if the leak was not discovered. 

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