Virtual Poster Session: Global Studies & Maritime Affairs Senior Thesis 2020

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound that is a common ingredient in fertilizers and explosives, but it poses a risk for detonation under certain circumstances, most often related to storage and transportation. In the last century, several catastrophic explosions involving ammonium nitrate have exposed gaps in research and legislation in the movement of the chemical. Research in recent years has revealed that governments across the world have approached the storage and transport of hazardous materials in significantly different ways. Some experts suggest that prevention of ammonium nitrate explosions is only viable on an international scale, while others believe that countries must be entrusted with their own systems of safety regulation. The international community must come to an agreement regarding the commitment to national enforcement of safety in the shipping industry. In reviewing case studies of the most devastating explosions in the last few decades, it is evident that international mandates must be complemented by national, regional, and local legislation. The response, cooperation, and collaboration of the international community is vital to the success of any legislation, as localized guidelines do not guarantee broader mitigation and prevention.