Disruption at one of world’s largest ports
Print Edition
THE explosions that sent huge fireballs through Tianjin disrupted the flow of cars, oil, iron ore and other items through one of the world’s largest ports.
The blast sent shipping containers tumbling into one another, leaving them in bent, charred piles. Rows of new cars, lined up on vast lots for distribution across China, were reduced to blackened carcasses.
Ships carrying oil and “hazardous products” were barred from the port yesterday, the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration said. It also said vessels were not allowed to enter the central port zone, which is near the blast site.
Australian mining giant BHP Billiton said the blast had disrupted iron ore shipments and port operations, but had not damaged any iron ore at the port.
“We are working with our customers to minimize any potential impact,” it said.
Volkswagen spokeswoman Larissa Braun said vehicles at a storage facility near the blast were damaged. “We will ship cars from our storage facilities at other ports to ensure our dealers have adequate supply,” she said. Volkswagen’s component plant, 20 kilometers away, suffered no damage, though some employees had minor injuries, she added.
Toyota said it also lost some cars awaiting shipment, though it was still investigating the extent of the damage. Windows broke at some buildings and dealerships, and a few employees in the area were injured, it said.
Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk said operations at its Tianjin port terminals, which are 5 kilometers from the blast site, had resumed. A few warehouses owned and operated by suppliers to its logistics company, Damco, were damaged, two of them seriously. It said access restrictions prevented it from fully assessing damage to cargo and Maersk Line containers.
Tianjin has grown in importance as companies seeking lower manufacturing costs migrated from China’s eastern and southeastern manufacturing centers.
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