A similar incident to the huge blast which shook Tianjin Port and cost the lives of 159 people six months ago has occurred in Brazil.
Ship movements have been restricted at the country’s Port of Santos after a chemical explosion of some 12 containers last Thursday, followed by a raging fire at a container terminal within the port, according to maritime news site, gCaptain.
The containers were carrying the hazardous chemical, dichloroisocyanuric acid (sodium salt) – and research by FTWO showed it to be the active ingredient in many commercial bactericides, algaecides, and cleaning agents.
The chemical, if in contact with combustible material, may lead to fire. It is incompatible with strong bases and oxidising agents and is moisture-sensitive. It also reacts with many nitrogen-containing compounds to form explosive nitrogen triiodide.
The port authority said the rest of the port was operating normally. However, ships have been stopped from docking at the terminal.
