NYK has hosted a series of conferences in Shanghai and Tokyo to improve knowledge about safety measures when shipping dangerous goods and chemicals to prevent accidents, as well as those arising from making false declarations.

Representatives from the UK's P&I Club, a third-party liability insurance association for shipowners, participated as guest speakers at the conferences that were held in the wake of a series of fires in recent years amid rapid growth in the global trade of containerised cargo, particularly from Asia.

A statement from NYK said that blazes caused by dangerous goods and chemicals are expected to continue to rise in the future.

For this reason, the NYK Container Trade Management Group began a Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Sea Campaign last September. The campaign encourages strengthening measures to prevent shipments of dangerous goods being falsely declared.

Specific activities include the enhancement of checking functions when booking shipments of dangerous goods and chemicals, introduction of an online e-learning programme for the handling of dangerous goods and the establishment of a dangerous goods help desk to cover booking offices around the world.

"To prevent accidents that result from false declarations of dangerous goods and chemicals, NYK continues to encourage other shipping companies, customers, insurance companies, government offices, and other relevant groups to participate in safety activities related to dangerous goods and chemicals," the release added.