The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a cargo container fire at the Port of Los Angeles last week. The fire led to the discovery of undeclared hazardous materials. The bill of lading for the container described the contents as synthetic resins. However, authorities discovered the container was actually full of lithium-ion batteries, which are a regulated hazardous material.
The Coast Guard, in conjunction with US Customs and Border Protection, PHMSA and the Port of Los Angeles, placed a hold on all containers from the unnamed shipper. The hold will remain in place until a complete inspection of the shipper’s containers in the port has been conducted and they can prove their shipments are all complying with safety regulations.
Capt. Rebecca Ore, US Coast Guard, said “Undeclared hazardous materials pose a severe risk to the safety of cargo vessels, the ports, and first responders. Along with our federal, state, and local partners, the Coast Guard is dedicated to working with all shippers to ensure hazardous materials are properly marked and packaged for safe transportation.”
Authorities have not determined who is responsible for the error on the bill of lading yet but they don’t believe it was “anything nefarious at the moment.”
