The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has revised guidelines for the implementation of the inspection of cargo transport units (CTUs) aiming to help governments implement a uniform and safe inspection programme.
The relevant IMO circular seeks to expand the inspections carried out and fully align with the safety directives of the last decade, according to a statement by the British insurance company TT Club.
More specifically, governments are asked to inspect goods from all types of cargo and not just those declared dangerous. Furthermore, the guidance takes into account the release of the CTU Code, revisions to container security regulations and the need to minimise the movement of invasive pests. The Circular also highlights the continued low submission of inspection reports and encourages an increase in such inspections.
“With the string of container ship fire casualties and fatal incidents at storage facilities, most recently at Chittagong (Chattogram), in our minds, our current concerns are manifest. They constantly remind us of the importance of adequate safety procedures in packing, handling and transporting the array of cargoes that have the potential to cause catastrophic incidents,” said Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT Club’s director of risk management.
“With only five of the 179 governments affiliated with IMO submitting reports on inspections at the last Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) sub-committee meeting in September 2021, the industry urgently seeks more collaborative support from governments in combatting the potential circumstances and cargo packing practices that cause dangerous incidents,” he added.
Peregrine Storrs-Fox noted that “It would be much appreciated if more national reports undertaken during 2021 can still be reported for consideration at the next CCC this September. However, TT calls for a viable sample of inspections in future based on the new guidelines. In this regard, TT would urge strongly that governments enter dialogue with industry to understand how the latter can work with enforcement agencies to improve safety.”
TT Club said it has campaigned to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the transport of dangerous goods and all potentially dangerous cargo. It is dedicated to improving standards for the safe and secure packing of all cargo in freight transport units.
There is a wealth of industry-generated guidance on best practices for packing and cargo handling. However, such work by industry groups can only be strengthened by a partnership with governments, according to TT’s statement.
“The international supply chains that service the trade in a myriad of commodities are complex and notoriously susceptible to disruption. Congestion and delays increase the challenges involved in maintaining safety levels in an environment where the demand for reliable delivery of goods is high. Such circumstances require an even higher level of attention to safe practices. The collection of information on the effective use and/or mis-use of these practices needs to be enhanced by a much higher level of rigorous inspections and report submissions from governments, but working from the understanding that this is a shared problem,” concluded Storrs-Fox.
