A major explosion and fire on a Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC)-owned containership, which was unloading at the port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, is set to ring up hefty general average and injury claims for its third-party liability insurer Korea P&I Club.

A cloud containing a toxic mixture of formaldehyde and chlorine was reportedly created by the explosion onboard the 1,600-teu KMTC Hongkong (built 1998) last week.