Ports in Japan, China and the U.S. face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters because of their vulnerable locations and increasing cargo volumes, a risk-management firm has said.
The Port of Nagoya leads all ports with a potential $2.3 billion cost to insurers from a one-in-500-year event because of the threat from earthquakes and windstorms, RMS Inc., a risk-modeling firm, said Monday in a statement. Guangzhou, China, is second at $2 billion, the company said, citing the possibility of wind-related losses and the dangers involving petroleum products and autos. RMS said satellite images and analysis of cargo types and storage methods helped modernize risk assessments.
"Outdated techniques and incomplete data have obscured many high-risk locations," Chris Folkman, director of product management at RMS, said in the statement. "The industry needs to cease its guessing game when determining catastrophe risk and port accumulations."