Questions over MH370 cargo emerge again following new information
The release of new information on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370’s cargo has again raised questions over the lithium ion batteries on board the missing jet.
The batteries were part of a larger “consolidated” shipment weighing about two tonnes, or equivalent to 2,453kg, a statement last night from MAS had said.
A Star Online report today quoted an unnamed NNR Global Logistics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd spokesperson in Batu Maung, Penang, as saying that the batteries weighed less than 200kg.
He would not say what made up the remaining 2,253kg of cargo due to directives from legal advisers not to talk while investigations are ongoing.
The spokesperson also did not reveal the name of the company that manufactured the batteries, saying that it was confidential.
A consolidated shipment combines several individual consignments to make up a full container load, which would be separated later at the port of destination into their original individual consignments for delivery to their respective consignees.
The batteries had been part of theories of what might have happened to the plane that went missing on March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.
Lithium ion batteries, which are used in mobile phones and computer laptops, are highly inflammable and had been reported to be responsible for a number of fires on planes in recent years.
On March 24, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya had said that there were some 200kg of lithium batteries onboard the plane and that they were packed safely.
In a statement last night, MAS revealed for the first time that the rest of the consignment with the batteries consisted of radio accessories and chargers.
“About two tonnes, equivalent to 2,453kg, of cargo was declared as consolidated under one master airway bill (AWB).
"This master AWB actually comprised five house AWB. Of these five AWB, two contained lithium ion batteries amounting to a total tonnage volume of 221kg,” the statement read.
"The balance three house AWB, amounting to 2,232kg, were declared as radio accessories and chargers.”
The AWB for the consignment was RM32,082.48.
This information about the cargo was also not stated in the full cargo manifest that was released together with the preliminary report on MH370 on Thursday.
The manifest only showed that NNR Global shipped 133 pieces for a total weight of 2,453kg.
The manifest did not specify the number of batteries nor their weight, but came with an instruction that the batteries should be handled with care and that flammability hazards exist.
The manifest stated that the batteries were from NNR Global, which is located at the Dis3plex Free Commercial Zone in the Airfreight Forwarders Warehousing Cargo Complex, less than 100m from the Penang International Airport.
The package was meant for NNR Global Logistics (Beijing) Co Ltd in China and a company named JHJ International Transportation Co Ltd, Beijing Branch, was to collect the cargo on its behalf.
It was reported previously that the missing plane had lithium ion batteries and more than 4 tonnes of mangosteens in its cargo. – May 3, 2014.
