On June 27, a leak in a gas tank containing toxic gases spilled at the port of Aqaba in southern Jordan, killing 14 people and injuring 265 others.
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The notification showed that the reason was that the port crane failed when loading the container containing chemical gas on the ship, causing the container to fall and explode, resulting in a chemical gas leak.
According to Mohammed Mubaiddin, the former head of the company operating the port, nearly 20 "gas tanks containing very high concentrations of chlorine" were being loaded on board at the time.
At present, emergency personnel have rushed to the scene, and the cause of the relevant accident is still under further investigation.
In recent years, while the port economy has grown, port security has become increasingly important. On August 12, 2015, a particularly serious fire and explosion accident occurred in Tianjin Port, resulting in 165 people killed, 8 people missing, and 798 people were injured and hospitalized; 304 buildings, 12,428 commercial vehicles, and 7,533 containers were damaged.
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On March 21, 2019, a huge explosion accident occurred in Xiangshui, Jiangsu Province, causing 78 deaths and more than 600 injuries, and affecting 16 surrounding enterprises, with direct economic losses of 1.986 billion yuan.
Due to the complex natural conditions of port site selection, usually at the junction of water and land, its buildings, equipment, etc. are particularly affected by waves, groundwater and human activities, and port operation and management face more unpredictability, that is, risks.
Risks in the specific operations of port operators
1 large machinery (loading and unloading bridge, tire crane) operation: mechanical damage, cargo damage, casualties, fire;
2 Container forklift operations: casualties, explosions and environmental pollution, mechanical damage, cargo damage;
3 Trailer operation: personal injury, loss of goods;
4 In and out of the container operation site: personal injury, property damage;
5 Dangerous goods container loading and unloading ship operations: fire, explosion, environmental pollution, property damage, casualties.
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As an important risk-sharing tool, insurance plays a role that cannot be underestimated in port operation management.
Insurance products that transfer the risk of port operations
The port operator's liability insurance protection involves the loading and unloading of goods, handling, warehousing, transshipment and other processes during the operation of various ports and terminals, and protects various comprehensive risks during the operation of ports and terminals.
The insured shall bear the economic compensation liability of the insured in accordance with the law for accidents caused by negligence or negligence in the course of engaging in the operation of the wharf in the designated wharf area and causing the following losses.
1 Property damage of a third party
Material loss and damage to any third party property, including loss and damage arising during use and handling, damage to the vessel is guaranteed. However, it should be noted that the insurance product has provisions for engaging in business activities within the scope of the port and the agreed contracting place.
2Bord injury to a third party
Personal injury or death is protected from employees, managers of port operators and any individual other than those associated with port operators.
3 Liability for wrong shipment of goods
The port operator shall bear various expenses and liabilities for the loss of goods due to the wrong shipment.
4 Leakage, pollution liability
To bear the liability of the port operator for leakage, pollution and property loss or personal injury or death of a third party caused by an accident in the course of engaging in terminal operations, which shall be borne by the insured in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China.
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5 Legal fees
- Costs incurred by the port operator in defending the claim;
- The costs of litigation awarded to port operators, such as the costs and expenses of determinations, investigations, adjustments, appraisals, appeals;
- Fees and salaries paid by the port operator with the consent of the insurer for its salaried employees and consultants hired.
6 Inspection and disinfection costs
In the process of the port operator engaged in the operation of the wharf, if an accident is caused by negligence or negligence and causes property loss or personal injury or death of a third party, the port operator shall bear the cost of inspection and disinfection in accordance with the law.
7 Waste/wreckage removal costs
The costs and expenses incurred by the port operator in voluntarily or in accordance with the legal right or obligation to remove waste, wreckage must be incurred by the port operator in order to avoid or reduce the claimed losses.
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Actual claim cases
On July 16, 2008, when the spreader was lifted to a height of 24.43 meters from the bottom of the bilge during the loading and unloading operation of Xiamen Songyu Container Terminal, the box cabinet on the east side of the spreader suddenly fell off and fell into the bilge, smashed into the bottom of the box cabinet and bounced open, and the marble in the box was thrown out, causing ship damage, box damage and spreader damage. After on-site investigation and calculation, the approved loss amount was 396260.47 yuan, and after deducting the depreciation residual value and deductible amount, the final insurance compensation amount was 342595.47 yuan.
Port enterprises as a typical capital-intensive industry, with large investment, long payback period and other characteristics, the internal and external risks are also complex and changeable, in order to avoid huge losses caused by accidents, the allocation of insurance is a good way for port operators to transfer commercial risks.