From a shortlist of three chosen by judges from a total of twenty-eight outstanding entries for this year’s competition, the partnership between Cross Currents 88 and G2 Ocean AS was announced as the winner of the TT Innovation in Safety Award, at a presentation ceremony in London today. The two highly commended innovations came from Royal Haskoning DHV and Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore.
Independently organised by international cargo handling association ICHCA, the TT Club Innovation in Safety Awards are dedicated to both organisations’ mission to promote and improve safety in all operational aspects of the supply chain. In encouraging innovation, the Awards are aimed at showcasing products, processes and services that address safety issues, to as wide an audience as possible, in an increasingly complex and challenging industry.
The successful shortlisted entries offered solutions to preventing potentially fatal falls in cargo holds, enhancing mooring safety and improving the safety and stability of containers on board ships. In a competitive final “Spyder Netting” from Cross Currents 88 and G2 Ocean AS was declared the winner. CEO of ICHCA, Richard Steele said, “Falls from height during cargo operations is a vitally important risk to be managed. Spyder Netting, a thin layer of plastic film which can be rolled out across gaps and secured between layers of cargo, has already saved lives. Cross Currents has been personally thanked by a stevedore whose fall was arrested by the netting.”
At the presentation ceremony, attended by representatives of many of the Award entrants and safety professionals from across the global industry, all three short-listed innovations were revealed in detail. Cargo handling veteran David Robinson delivered a keynote speech and presented the award to the winners.
The wide-ranging safety challenges tackled by this year’s award entrants fell into four main categories. Both the advantages of using data collection in providing insight into safety improvements and the growth of learning technology in training using virtual simulation featured heavily. In the operational environment, practical products to secure cargo and distance human involvement through automation were put forward. Finally, segregating machines from people was a primary aim of many. This goal is crucial in improved safety, as the situation causes the second highest amount of severe consequence incidents in cargo operations.
This, the sixth iteration of these unique and prestigious awards, is part of ICHCA and TT’s jointly held value to encourage innovative solutions to crucial safety challenges. “However, they are just part of our efforts,” said TT’s Mike Yarwood. “We want to nurture widespread and varied advances in safety innovation, so we seek to give all entrants the oxygen of visibility in the marketplace to help develop and grow their initiative to benefit cargo handling operations globally.”
So, the partners aim to provide a tool kit that helps promote these ground-breaking ideas in a number of ways. A Digest of all the award entries is available NOW. In the months between awards cycles, entrants are invited to various discussion forums, conference and exhibition appearances, including the TT/ICHCA Safety Village at TOC Europe in June (details HERE).
All these opportunities seek to enable and act as communications conduits for innovative thinking in safety, the partnership helps link innovators with those looking to invest in safety measures and operators seeking solutions. Through these efforts, the relevance of the innovative products and services can also be honed to maximum effect, and their place in established safety practices of the future cemented.
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.
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 primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1200 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.