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Archives for September 2023

TT Club Innovation in Safety Award 2023 Opens for Entries

Following the recent success of this annual Award with record number of entries, the 2023 award will continue to form the centrepiece of TT Club and ICHCA’s on-going efforts to encourage players in the freight transport and cargo handling sectors further in continuing to improve operational safety and efficiency through innovation.

London, 4 September 2023

ICHCA International, the global cargo handling association, launched the 2023 TT Club Innovation in Safety Award today inviting entrants to submit details of their innovations by 13November 2023. The Award, which is open to an individual, team or company involved in cargo logistics, has seen the prestige associated with winning or being highly commended, grow year-on-year. Past winners have ranged from individual entrepreneurs and specialist suppliers to employee teams in major industry businesses. Entrants are required to show that a product, idea, solution, process, scheme or other innovation has resulted in a demonstrable improvement in safety.

Details of how to submit entries and of the judging criteria can be found HERE

Both ICHCA and TT Club have a fundamental commitment to risk reduction throughout the entire freight supply chain. Promoting safety advice and good practices is paramount to the philosophy of the two organisations and the Award reflects this commitment. As such, the Award and the consequent profiling of the innovations put forward by its enthusiastic entrants, is central to the two organisations’ efforts to support continuous improvement in safety. They will continue to provide opportunities to showcase winners and other entrants, organising Safety Villages at industry forums and other live or virtual events. The range of the safety information and guidance documents these two organisations produce, from white papers to webinars and from advisories to checklists, can be found on their individual websites.

TT’s Risk Management Director Peregrine Storrs-Fox has been a supporter of the Award since its inception in 2016, “In TT’s role as a specialist provider of insurance products and risk management services to the supply chain industry, we have always emphasised the critical nature of loss prevention. At its essence this involves innovation to overcome experienced deficiencies – and then sharing what has been learned to enhance safety and certainty of outcome,” he says.

“TT is therefore proud to have worked closely with ICHCA for a number of years, both in presenting this Award and urging everyone across the entire industry to seek constant improvements in good practice systems and procedures safety. We look forward to celebrating the wealth of safety innovation that will once more be attracted by this Award.”

In past years, submissions to the Award programme have ranged in focus from bulk cargo handling to securing containers and their cargoes; from safety reporting and education to the correct handling of dangerous materials; from environmental monitoring to fire detection and suppression. The 2022 Award went to APMT’S Vessel Inspection Mobile App.  The App was developed in house in collaboration with Maersk and the core tenets made freely available to the industry. It provides a standardised digital platform for terminals to carry out vessel inspections, highlighting potential critical risk.

Two further shortlisted in this latest Award were NCB Exis Technologies for their Hazcheck Detect Innovation, allowing competing carriers the same technical solution with similar rules for immediate outcomes of cargo screening.  Finally Telematics BV (IMT) for its innovative Tank Container Temperature Monitoring system, offering a digital answer to the increasing demand to transport dangerous goods safely and monitor them remotely.

Richard Steele, ICHCA’s CEO comments, “A massive benefit of the Award is that we make the innovative work carried out by the organisations that enter, available to others. Working together in partnership with TT, we strive to achieve this through publishing a Digest of all the entries and helping the innovators to disseminate their knowledge through webinars and Safety Villages at industry exhibitions.”

“At ICHCA we believe that safety is the partner of efficiency, not its opposite.  A well-run safety-conscious organisation is an efficient and sustainable organisation. Accidents cost lives, money and reputation. We challenge ourselves and our industry to move safely forward. We are proud of the innovation our industry has achieved and we wish to celebrate those achievements into the future.”

The Award ceremony will take place in London on 22 February 2024 those shortlisted will present their entries, the winner announced and innovation will be celebrated once more.

Notes to Editors:

About ICHCA International

Established in 1952, ICHCA International is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and movement worldwide. ICHCA’s privileged NGO status enables it to represent its members, and the cargo handling industry at large, in front of national and international agencies and regulatory bodies, while its Technical Panel provides best practice advice and develops publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues.


Operating through a series of national and regional chapters, including ICHCA Australia, ICHCA Japan and plus Correspondence and Working Groups, ICHCA provides a focal point for informing, educating, lobbying and networking to improve knowledge and best practice across the cargo handling chain.

www.ichca.com

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s mission is to make the global transport and logistics industry safer, more secure and more sustainable.  Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 97% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

HPC empowered to drive Georgia’s National Maritime Single Window Initiative through IT Management

Hamburg, 04 September 2023 The U.S. Department of State, Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program, in consultation with the MTA Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia (MTA) and Amentum, a premier leader in global engineering, project management and solution integration, has chosen the port specialist HPC Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) as its trusted partner to perform comprehensive IT management services for establishing a National Maritime Single Window (NMSW).

The introduction of such a platform aims to enhance transparency in government processes concerning international maritime transportation and foster interagency collaboration. By streamlining operations and facilitating efficient information exchange, the launch of the NMSW will bring significant improvements to the logistics industry and position Georgia as a crucial hub of the Middle Corridor and gateway to Europe.

Port of Poti

A National Maritime Single Window is an electronic platform that facilitates the exchange of information between government agencies and the shipping industry. It serves as a centralized system for reporting and processing maritime transport-related information, including cargo, vessel, crew, and port details. As of January 1, 2024, all public authorities of International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states are required to establish, maintain, and use such systems in ports.

Georgian ports including the Port of Batumi, Port of Poti, the Kulevi Terminal and the Supsa Terminal handle an annual cargo throughput of 50 million tonnes and 2.2 million TEU, and currently lack from a multiport data information exchange platform.

The importance of a project of this supranational scale is reflected in its governance structure. Funded by Department of State’s Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program and managed by International Crime Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the project is being operationalized by Amentum to be commissioned and managed in the future by the MTA as owner of the Georgia MSW.

HPC, in partnership with software provider Prodevelop and local Plisk Consulting, emerged victorious from a competitive tender process issued by EXBS. Their collective expertise will encompass defining, designing, developing, and implementing the National Maritime Single Window for Georgia. The scope of HPC’s work covers process definition, requirement engineering, and software implementation support in compliance with IMO regulations.

During the stakeholder workshop in July, Aleksi Akhvlediani, the recently appointed new Director of the MTA, highlighted the value of the initiative, stating, “By adopting the National Maritime Single Window, we are actively pursuing increased efficiency and attractiveness to the logistics industry. This step represents a significant advancement in Georgia’s digital supply chain infrastructure and is a crucial development for our economic growth and Georgia’s geopolitical significance of the Middle Corridor.”

Nuno Nunes, Project Lead at HPC, emphasized the value of inclusion and effectiveness of such a digital data exchange system, stating, “The collaboration provided by a National Maritime Single Window enables better support to the private sector by facilitating faster governmental agency interventions in processes. This results in more efficient customs procedures, enhanced transparency in import and export operations, and supports integration between Asia and Europe.”

The implementation of a Maritime Single Window will be instrumental in developing the middle corridor. By digitizing cargo information exchange, it significantly enhances efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly when faced with the complexities and transitions associated with multiple border controls. Georgia’s proactive approach should serve as an example for others to follow.

HPC recognizes the importance of including all stakeholders in this transformative initiative. As a strategic partner, HPC is committed to ensuring fostering an inclusive and seamless integration process. HPC boasts extensive, global experience in supporting governments and port authorities in implementing state-of-the-art collaboration platforms, including national maritime single window systems and port community systems.

For more information on IT implementation and community system integration services, please visit the website: www.hamburgportconsulting.com

About HPC

HPC Hamburg Port Consulting operates as a logistics consulting company, specialising in strategy and transformation services for the ports, terminals, and rail sectors. Since its establishment in 1976, the Hamburg-based consulting company has delivered about 1,800 projects across 135 countries spanning six continents along the entire port project development cycle. HPC employs about 100 domain experts with a background as terminal operators, software engineers, logistics managers, transport economists, data scientists and mathematicians. As a subsidiary of the Hamburg Port and Logistics Corporation (HHLA), HPC has its roots in port handling of container, breakbulk and multipurpose, as well as hinterland operations. www.hamburgportconsulting.com

HPC unterstützt Georgiens „National Maritime Single Window“-Initiative mittels IT-Management

Hamburg, 04. September 2023 Das US Außenministerium hat im Rahmen des Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Programms in Absprache mit der MTA Maritime Transport Agency von Georgien (MTA) und Amentum, einem führenden Unternehmen für weltweites Engineering, Projektmanagement und Lösungsintegration, den Hafenspezialisten HPC Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) als kompetenten Partner für die Erbringung umfassender IT-Management-Dienstleistungen zur Errichtung eines National Maritime Single Window (NMSW) ausgewählt.

Die Einführung einer solchen Plattform zielt darauf ab, die Transparenz der behördlichen Prozesse im internationalen Seeverkehr zu erhöhen und die behördenübergreifende Zusammenarbeit zu fördern. Durch die Straffung der Abläufe und die Erleichterung eines effizienten Informationsaustauschs wird die Etablierung des NMSW erhebliche Verbesserungen für die Logistikbranche mit sich bringen und Georgien als wichtiges Drehkreuz des Mittleren Korridors und Tor zu Europa positionieren.

Ein National Maritime Single Window ist eine elektronische Plattform, die den Informationsaustausch zwischen staatlichen Stellen und der Schifffahrtsindustrie erleichtert. Es dient als zentrales System für die Meldung und Verarbeitung von Informationen über den Seeverkehr, einschließlich Fracht, Schiff, Besatzung und Hafendaten. Ab dem 1. Januar 2024 sind alle Behörden der Mitgliedsstaaten der Internationalen Seeschifffahrtsorganisation (IMO) verpflichtet, solche Systeme in den Häfen einzurichten, zu pflegen und zu nutzen.

Die georgischen Häfen, darunter der Hafen von Batumi, der Hafen von Poti, das Kulevi Terminal sowie das Supsa-Terminal, haben einen jährlichen Frachtumschlag von 50 Millionen Tonnen und 2,2 Millionen TEU und verfügen derzeit nicht über eine Plattform für den Austausch von Daten über mehrere Häfen.

Die Bedeutung eines Projekts dieser supranationalen Größenordnung spiegelt sich in seiner Governance-Struktur wider. Das Projekt wird vom EXBS-Programm des US-Außenministeriums finanziert und vom International Crime Investigative Training Assistance Programm (ICITAP) des US-Justizministeriums (DOJ) verwaltet. Derzeit operationalisiert von Amentum, soll das Projekt in Zukunft von MTA, dem Inhaber des NMSW von Georgien, beauftragt und durchgeführt werden.

HPC hat sich zusammen mit seinen Partnern, dem Softwareanbieter Prodevelop und dem lokalen Unternehmen Plisk Consulting, in einem von EXBS durchgeführten Ausschreibungsprozess durchgesetzt. Ihre gemeinsame Expertise umfasst die Definition, das Design, die Entwicklung und die Implementierung des National Maritime Single Window für Georgien. Der Aufgabenbereich von HPC reicht von der Prozessdefinition über das Anforderungsmanagement bis zur Unterstützung bei der Softwareimplementierung in Übereinstimmung mit den IMO-Vorschriften.

Während eines Stakeholder-Workshops im Juli hob Aleksi Akhvlediani, der kürzlich ernannte neue Direktor der MTA, den Wert der Initiative hervor und erklärte: “Mit der Einführung des National Maritime Single Window streben wir aktiv nach mehr Effizienz und Attraktivität für die Logistikbranche. Dieser Schritt stellt einen bedeutenden Fortschritt in Georgiens digitaler Lieferketteninfrastruktur dar und ist eine entscheidende Entwicklung für unser Wirtschaftswachstum und Georgiens geopolitische Bedeutung des Mittleren Korridors.”

Nuno Nunes, Projektleiter bei HPC, betonte den Wert der Beteiligung und die Effektivität eines solchen digitalen Datenaustauschsystems: “Die Zusammenarbeit, die durch ein NMSW gewährleistet wird, ermöglicht eine bessere Unterstützung des Privatsektors, indem sie ein schnelleres Eingreifen der Regierungsbehörden in die Prozesse gestattet. Dies führt zu effizienteren Zollverfahren, erhöhter Transparenz bei Import- und Exportvorgängen und unterstützt die Integration zwischen Asien und Europa.”

Die Einführung eines NMSW wird für die Entwicklung des mittleren Korridors von entscheidender Bedeutung sein. Durch die Digitalisierung des Frachtinformationsaustauschs werden Effizienz und Kostenwirksamkeit erheblich gesteigert, insbesondere angesichts der Komplexität und der Übergänge, die mit den zahlreichen Grenzkontrollen verbunden sind. Georgiens proaktiver Ansatz sollte als Beispiel für andere dienen, die ihm folgen sollten.

HPC betont die Bedeutung, alle Beteiligten in diese transformative Initiative einzubeziehen. Als strategischer Partner setzt sich HPC für die Förderung eines inklusiven und nahtlosen Integrationsprozesses ein. HPC verfügt über umfangreiche, weltweite Erfahrung in der Unterstützung von Regierungen und Hafenbehörden bei der Implementierung von hochmodernen Kollaborationsplattformen, einschließlich NMSW und Port Community Systemen.

Weitere Informationen zur IT-Implementierung und zur Integration von Community Systemen finden Sie auf der folgenden Website: www.hamburgportconsulting.com

Kontakt

Steffi Karsten, HPC-Marketing / PR, E-Mail: s.karsten@hpc-hamburg.de

Über HPC

HPC Hamburg Port Consulting ist ein global agierendes Logistikberatungsunternehmen, das sich auf Strategie- und Transformationsdienstleistungen für die Sektoren Häfen, Terminals und Bahn spezialisiert hat. Seit seiner Gründung im Jahr 1976 hat das Hamburger Beratungsunternehmen rund 1.800 Projekte in 135 Ländern auf sechs Kontinenten entlang des gesamten Entwicklungszyklus von Hafenprojekten durchgeführt. HPC beschäftigt rund 100 Experten aus den Bereichen Terminalbetreiber, Software-Ingenieure, Logistikmanager, Verkehrsökonomen, Datenwissenschaftler und Mathematiker. Als Tochterunternehmen der Hamburger Hafen- und Logistikgesellschaft (HHLA) hat HPC seine Wurzeln im Hafenumschlag von Containern, Stückgut und Mehrzweckfracht sowie im Hinterlandbetrieb.