Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is investigating the cause of a second fire that broke out in a container at the Durban Container Terminal on Monday morning.
TNPA issued the first fire notice to port customers on Saturday, March 5. The notice advised that operations at Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 were “on standby with immediate effect as a result of a container from FF5 row 33 with huge smoke that is posing a safety risk”.
TNPA spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said the second fire had broken out in a container at Pier 2 on Monday morning. It is unclear at this stage what cargo was inside the container.
“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and an investigation is under way. Each consignment that enters the port is required to be declared in terms of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Codes and a call has been made to the responsible shipping agent to establish what was in the container. Goods are declared in terms of the IMDG as either general or dangerous goods,” said Shezi.
He said Transnet was also speaking to Customs at SARS and other relevant authorities to get to the bottom of the matter.
“This morning’s fire follows a fire that broke out on another container on Saturday, from the same consignment. The fire has since been contained. The affected containers have now been moved to an isolated stacking area and the cargo owners will be required to evacuate them as soon as possible,” said Shezi.
