Proper Hazmat Procedures Protect Our Environment, Personnel

By James Owen, Dangerous Goods Specialist

As an ocean carrier, Matson ships and generates hazardous waste. Our vessels navigate some of the most pristine and environmentally sensitive areas in the Pacific, including the Hawaiian Islands, U.S. coastlines from California to Alaska, and the South Pacific. We are committed to protecting these areas by operating our business in an environmentally responsible manner. The company is highly aware of its responsibility and takes great precautions to properly identify, store, label, and dispose of hazardous waste.

Several Matson facilities and all our vessels generate small amounts of hazardous waste. Unlike household waste simply disposed of in landfills, hazardous waste must be properly identified under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and transported by EPA and Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. When carrying waste, Matson’s Dangerous Goods Team follows a stringent review process to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Our responsibility and mandate at Matson is to ensure that our oceanic environmental footprint is as small as possible. Because of our combined efforts, Matson has avoided any major incidents, and minor issues have been handled quickly with no environmental impact or resulting fines. An example of something that could have become a major incident for another carrier in 2021 was a leak discovered in a container of hazardous waste liquids en route to China. While the waste had been properly declared and all documents were in order, a later inspection of the contents would reveal both negligence and falsification on the shipper’s part. This incident could have led to contamination of the ocean as well as injury to the crew. The incident was contained and managed safely through quick handling by both the crew and shoreside personnel until the vessel could return to port for a proper hazmat response. While incidents such as this are infrequent, they do occur. Thanks to Matson’s well-defined processes and training, in the event of an incident, we can manage it quickly, efficiently, and, most importantly, safely.

An additional layer of safety can be found within our Quality Management System. At Matson, our processes are routinely reviewed during our International Organization for Standardization (ISO) audits. The locations that generate hazardous waste are inspected, and the procedures for handling, storing, and preparing waste for shipment are reviewed. The results of these inspections are reported after each audit, and our ISO certification is directly tied to our performance in meeting those procedures.

Hazardous waste is a complex issue and is regulated by multiple sources. A lot of training and attention to detail is required. From the “Greentainers” that come off our vessels to the aerosols used in our paint shops, the waste we deal with has its own properties, risks, and unique handling procedures. Mismanagement of waste can cause significant problems. Matson has avoided any serious incidents thanks to the dedication of Matson personnel who manage the collection, storage, preparation, and transportation of hazardous waste.