Japanese Container ports located south of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami are undamaged but questions remain surrounding future power supplies. The Club would recommend that where carriers accept refrigerated cargo to Japan, customers are warned about potential rolling blackouts at the time of booking and are advised to remove their cargo from the discharge port as early as possible to avoid any potential power disruptions. It is also recommended that a clause is placed on the bill of lading to protect carriers against future claims.

SPECIAL NOTICE: ROLLING BLACKOUTS AT PORTS IN JAPAN MAY DISRUPT POWER SUPPLY TO REFRIGERATED CONTAINERS. BY ACCEPTING THIS BILL OF LADING THE MERCHANT ACCEPTS ALL RESULTING RISKS, LOSS AND DAMAGE ARISING FROM SUCH BLACKOUTS AND THE CARRIER IS NOT LIABLE FOR SAME. THE MERCHANT IS STRONGLY ADVISED TO TAKE DELIVERY OF REFRIGERATED CONTAINERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER DISCHARGE IN JAPAN TO MINIMISE RISK OF POWER DISRUPTIONS.

We suggest this clause is inserted on bills of lading for refrigerated cargo being shipped to Japan for the next 30 days or until the situation in Japan stabilises and rolling blackouts are no longer an issue.