Deadly explosion at Tianjin port could disrupt supply chain - Marine Log
AUGUST 14, 2015—The deadly series of explosions and huge fire that rocked Tianjin Port in China, killing at least 56 people and injuring another 700, could lead to massive supply chain disruptions, writes attorneys Holman Fenwick Wilan LLP. Tianjin is the second largest Vehicle Processing Center in China for importing and exporting cars. Earlier this year, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) opened a Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) in Tianjin Port. The Tianjin VPC is operated by Tianjin Port Wallenius Wilhelmsen Vehicle Logistics Co. , Ltd, a joint venture between WWL China Ltd. The companies signed a joint venture agreement mid 2014 with WWL China Ltd. In a Briefing, Holman Fenwick reports that according to the Tianjin Police, the explosion happened in a warehouse operated by a logistics company called Rui Hai International Logistics Co. Ltd. The warehouse is reported to have been designed to store dangerous chemicals, including sodium cyanide (which is classified as “extremely harmful”) and the explosives sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. Rui Hai will doubtless be facing substantial losses and it, together with the owner of the cargo which exploded, will be at the center of investigations to ascertain whether the cargo was properly declared, handled and stored. Source: www.marinelog.com
