Latest Shipping Port News

There have been several rumours circulating that new ports will open up soon, namely Lian Yun (連雲港) and Ningbo (寧波) port.

Lian Yun port is not able to handle fireworks and neither is Ningbo. There is no ocean vessel going through Lian Yun port so fireworks need to transport back to Shanghai. The port is also 250 miles north of Shanghai so it is much more expensive from Liuyang to go there, and back down to Shanghai. The only advantage for opening up this port or Ningbo, is when Shanghai decides to close the port for fireworks during the Expo 2010 (from May 1st to Oct 31st, 2010). Then we can send the cargo to Lian Yun or Ningbo for loading (if there is a ban in Shanghai).

After a recent safety meeting in Liuyang, there were some discussions with the Deputy Liuyang City Secretary. The government is trying to open more ports like Lian Yun or Ningbo, just in case Shanghai decides not to take any fireworks during the Expo. The Secretary also indicated that does not look likely Nan Sha port will reopen to fireworks. Guangxi's Beihai govenment had a meeting with Liuyang government, and indicated that Beihai government wants to stop fireworks from Beihai port, and open up Tie Shan Port (鐵山港). However, that would require some investment to upgrade the port facility before the port can handle fireworks. Beihai government is asking Liuyang government to invest.

Many people are actively working on opening more ports for fireworks but it is a lengthy process and one that will take at least a few years.

If you haven't seen it ... Atlantis Hotel opening in Dubai

Good resolution CNN footage but stops after 5 minutes.


Low quality but full length


Link to BBC Video Footage of event
Fiery spectacle opens Dubai hotel
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7740887.stm

China Export Tax Rebate for fireworks to be increased to 13% after December 1st 2008.

The current Export Tax Rebate is at 5% which was reduced from 13% in June 2007. It has been confirmed that fireworks has been included in the next round of Tax Rebate increase and for exports after December 1st, 2008, the rate will go back to 13%.

Vulcan 10" Shell - UN Classification 6a

This was a Vulcan 10" Shell - UN 6a test

Vulcan 12" Shell of Shell - UN 6b test

This is a UN classification 6a test that was done recently. Finding - 1.1G

Chinese safety agency to overhaul use of fireworks component

www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-07 20:32:24 Print

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) said on Friday it would start a special overhaul on potassium chlorate, a chemical widely used for producing fireworks.

The administration said misuse of the chemical was the major cause of fireworks-related accidents. Relevant authorities should keep records of all purchases, sales and use of the chemical to prevent accidents.

A SAWS official said the administration conducted random inspections of fireworks producers and distributors every year. These inspections covered about 5 percent of all producers and distributors in the country.

Province-level work safety departments also carried out similar checks on more than 20 percent of firework units in each provincial region.

He said results of the overhaul and penalties on companies that had misused the chemical would be released later.

Last month, a fireworks technician died in an explosion outside a park in Shanghai when he was loading fireworks on to a truck.

On Sept. 20, a nightclub fire left 43 people dead and 88 injured in south China's Shenzhen city. The fire began when a performer set off fireworks during a show.


Editor: Jiang Yuxia

Shogun Iron Pyro Competition launched!

Loosely based on the format of the popular television cooking show called Iron Chef, Iron Pyro is a pyrotechnicians dream come true for anyone that would like to try their hand as a world class Firework Choreographer competing head to head with like-minded individuals. In order to fairly judge the merits and skills of the Contestants, each of the three competitors will have been given exactly the same amount and type of firework “ingredients”, selected and donated by the events main sponsor and organizer Shogun Pyrotechnics. With a challenging combination of shells, rockets, fountains, comets, roman candles, and mines each Contestants job will be to create a six to ten minute firework extravaganza blended to the music of their choice.


On Tuesday night August 11th 2009 in Mason City Iowa, in conjunction with PGI, three specially selected contestants will take the stage to battle it out for the honor of becoming the first ever IRON PYRO.

Iron Pyro's main idea is to promote and encourage new directions in the field of firework design and firework choreography. We hope that access to high quality fireworks and a competitive atmosphere before a live public audience will bring out the creativity and abilities of the Contestants in an off beat and unique way. In addition to the whole idea of the fun and excitement we think the event with generate is the fact that individuals who may not have the funds or resources to normally participate in a project of this scale will be equally eligible whether they be amateurs or professionals.

An Iron Pyro website has been launched to fully explain the rules and regulations of the competition, lay out who will be eligible, update interested individuals with new information, provide a forum for comments, videos, and suggestions, and begin the process of selecting the three finalists for the upcoming actual event.

If you (or anyone you know) think you qualify as an Iron Pyro, go to www.ironpyro.com!

If you have never watched Iron Chef before, go to Youtube.com and type in Iron Chef!