Acid box alert

The US Coast Guard has issued an alert concerning leaking containers loaded with hydrochloric acid. USCG’s Houston/Galveston branch says that improper loading and securing within the containers is to blame. It also says that there are placarding issues with the consignments, which have all been loaded in India. USCG notes that it is “of great importance to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken in the handling of these containers”. It calls on facility operators to inspect containers for leaks before opening them. The UK P&I Club reports that there have been “many” recent incidents in inland transport in the US involving such containers, including one that necessitated the evacuation of a town in Colorado.