📈 Maritime Fire Risks Hit Decade High Amid Misdeclared Cargo Concerns

Global shipping recorded 250 fires in 2024, the highest in ten years, primarily driven by misreported hazardous goods. This poses significant implications for Sri Lanka’s logistics & shipping hub ambitions. • Industry Crisis & Tech Response The World Shipping Council (WSC) has launched an AI-driven screening system to scan bookings in real-time. Over 75% of the industry by tonnage has adopted this tool to mitigate "unscrupulous" cargo declarations. • Accountability Shift While vessel owners often face initial blame, legal and industry experts emphasize that liability lies upstream. Exporters/Shippers: Responsible for "stuffing" and sealing containers; liable for damage caused by poor packing or misdeclaration. Freight Forwarders: Hold responsibility for Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments where multiple cargoes are consolidated. • National Context & Risk As Sri Lanka operates as a major transshipment hub, the integrity of cargo declarations at the point of origin is critical. With 900 million containers moving globally, even minor non-compliance creates systemic vulnerabilities for regional feeder services and ultra-large vessels. • Legal Outlook There is growing pressure to strengthen oversight of cargo declaration and container stuffing practices. Unless compliance is tightened at the source, the risk remains transferred through the supply chain until it materializes at sea.