Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Containers – Understanding the Risks
Taslim Imad
Published: September 08, 2026
Dangerous goods are an important part of global trade and are routinely carried onboard container ships. Their safe carriage requires correct identification, classification, packing, marking, labelling and documentation, together with suitable stowage and segregation throughout the voyage.
While dangerous goods are routinely carried safely, however, undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods, mis-stowage of dangerous goods containers, damaged containers and inappropriate segregation can increase the risk of fire, explosion, toxic release, chemical reaction or marine pollution. Some of these risks may originate during the shore-side preparation of containers for shipment and may not become apparent until after the container has been loaded onboard. This can also affect the crew’s ability to identify the hazard and respond effectively to an incident.
The Club’s Risk Alert highlights key considerations for the carriage of dangerous goods including correct cargo information, packing, stowage and segregation, crew awareness and emergency preparedness. It also outlines practical measures that can help Members and their crews manage the associated risks and support the safe carriage of dangerous goods at sea.
