Shipping Chemical Products from Colon to Honolulu via Ocean Freight

Transporting moisture-sensitive chemical goods demands tight-closing drums or jerricans, vapor-barrier wraps, and drying agents inside cartons or overpacks. It is important to clearly note “Keep Dry” on labels and booking notes and not use open or vented storage and transit equipment where humidity can build up.

For most regulated chemical products, tested and approved packaging is mandatory when shipping by road, sea, or air. The specific UN packaging code and performance level are determined by the product’s hazard class and packing group shown on the SDS. Be sure to confirm with your dangerous goods specialist or carrier whether your industrial chemicals are fully regulated, limited quantity, or exempt before selecting packaging.

Most industrial chemicals shipments must include a dangerous goods declaration, the latest SDS, and complete labels and markings that correspond to the classification. Our team recommends including emergency contact details, handling instructions (e.g., “Keep Dry,” “Do Not Stack”), and any special approvals required by local authorities for specific chemical goods.

You can sometimes consolidate different chemical products, but only if they are compatible. First review the SDS and relevant ADR/IMDG/IATA tables to ensure acids, bases, oxidizers, flammables, and other chemical products are properly separated. Use segregation panels and clear labeling when combining multiple hazard classes.

Because industrial chemicals can cause significant loss if leaks occur, specialized cargo coverage is advisable. Carefully review your policy to confirm that dangerous goods and specialty chemicals are not excluded, and that coverage extends to contamination, disposal, and emergency response costs where applicable.

Shipping chemicals requires proper documentation including a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), a bill of lading, and compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, as well as any specific documentation required by the Panamanian authorities for hazardous materials.

The regulatory requirements include adherence to the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). Shippers must ensure that all chemicals are properly classified and labeled according to both Panamanian and U.S. regulations.

DNA supports omnichannel retail, technology and electronics, automotive parts and machinery, manufacturing and heavy equipment, healthcare and medical, and hospitality and FF&E.

DNA Supply Chain combines global freight forwarding services with the SAMMIE AI platform to provide live map tracking, predictive ETAs, exception alerts, and centralized shipment documents so you have total shipment control on one powerful platform.

DNA’s ocean freight solutions uses deep carrier relationships and the SAMMIE platform to move FCL and LCL containers smarter, with fewer surprises, clearer ETAs, and proactive risk flagging before issues develop.