Reaction to Tianjin port explosion jeopardizes hazmat shipments

Officials in the Chinese city are curbing the movement of petroleum and other chemicals through the port while the investigation into last week’s massive warehouse explosion continues.    City officials in Tianjin, China have ordered the port to stop handling tankers and container vessels carrying hazardous substances following last week’s massive explosion that killed at least 114 people, according to Inchcape Shipping Services.
   The shipping agent advised clients that container ships with hazardous goods on board are currently unable to berth and discharge cargo, and that most tanker operations in the port have ceased.
   The Tianjin Municipal Transport Commission has not indicated when port operations for vessels carrying hazardous materials may resume. 
   Tianjin is a major hub petrochemicals, refining and other industries.
   Meanwhile, Chinese authorities continue to search for missing people in the blast zone, which is only 3 kilometers from the nearest container terminal. Officials confirmed there were 700 tons of sodium cyanide stored in the warehouses that exploded, and have acted to prevent chemical runoff, according to “NewsHour” on PBS.
   Foreign companies, including Toyota and Panasonic, have moved to suspend operations around the port, the program said.