# Beirut blast back in the news **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime News\ **Created:** [July 14, 2022, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/beirut-blast-back-in-the-news/63611 "2022-07-14T11:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/beirut-blast-back-in-the-news/63611/1 "2022-07-14T11:14:27Z")
> **[6m teu of surplus containers now exist - Splash247](https://splash247.com/6m-teu-of-surplus-containers-now-exist/)** > > The global pool of shipping containers increased by 13% to almost 50m teu in 2021, which was three times prior growth trend. This reflected lessors and ocean carriers ordering a record number of containers, while retiring fewer ageing units, as... IIRC the report at the time was that ship that brought the cargo to Beirut was bound for Mozambique and the ammonium nitrat was said to be for use as fertilizer. The ship was arrested and the cargo eventually confiscated by the Lebanese Government and stored at the port for several years, before the explosion.(??) Yes, ammonium nitrate was/is used in onshore seismic operation as explosive, but then shipped in prepared ready mixed primary charges and declared as hazardous cargo. A secondary charge and blast cap is required to set off the explosion. Those are shipped separately as explosives. (At least that is my experience from carrying this as cargo in Indonesia) PS\> As fertilizer it is shipped in bags/big bags and regarded as non-hazardous cargo. > **[What Is Ammonium Nitrate, the Chemical That Exploded in Beirut?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-the-chemical-that-exploded-in-beirut/)** > > The blast injured thousands and killed at least 78 people