Fake docs on the Yangtse

A shipowner was kept in police custody in Shanghai for ten days last month and given a fine of Rmb 1,000 ($157) for shipping dangerous cargo using fake documentation, according to a recent report by the Yangtze River Administration.

Yangtse Business Services (YBS) reports that the vessel in question, a container barge named Hua An Ji 8, was loading at Wuhan Yangluo terminal this past April 11 when local maritime safety officials boarded to carry out a random inspection. They found fake documents relating to permits to carry dangerous goods and special qualifications for crew members. Another fake document appeared to allow the barge to carry more containers than it was designed for. The barge’s log book showed that it had carried dangerous goods three times between Wuhan and Shanghai over the previous two months, using the fake documents.

YBS notes that price wars among container barge operators on the Yangtse have squeezed margins significantly and they are finding that dangerous goods offer an attractive profit. Police are still investigating the source of the fake documents.