US Coast Guard admits it has no plans yet for dealing with containers
At least ten more potentially explosive containers have been found at the Port of Seattle with a question mark still hanging over the fate of the growing collection of containers.
Earlier this year maritime authorities reported that three reefer containers exploded or caused a fire, resulting in two fatalities in Vietnam and one in Brazil.
The explosions were believed to be the result of contaminated gas added to the boxes’ refrigeration units during servicing in Vietnam.
According to local reports, a growing stack of 80 refrigerated containers at the Port of Seattle have been sitting by itself, isolated from the rest of the port for safety reasons.
The US Coast Guard said it is working with the terminal operators to keep the 80 containers away from everyone, but admits there is no specific plan yet for dealing with them.
Rudy Finne of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said: "I personally think it’s ludicrous to have possible bombs at every corner here and have everybody seem not that concerned about it."
The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the various terminal operators, said it is looking for a solution to checking each container to see if it poses any risk. These at-risk containers are being turned away from terminal operators, and as a result, they remain out in the public.
Meantime, the union is worried about containers that left Vietnam and may have passed through local ports before the security alert was put in place.
The three reefers that exploded were operated by Maersk Line, but since the danger was reported all carriers are scrambling to find any reefers that have been repaired in Vietnam since February.
Maersk has removed all its 844 reefer containers that have been repaired in Vietnam.
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