The need for increased integrity in the global supply chain persists. The Cargo Integrity Group has updated its Quick Guide to the CTU Code and once more urges all involved in intermodal container transport to pay heed.

The multi-faceted group of originally five, now seven industry organisations, produced a Quick Guide to the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) some two years ago.  The Quick Guide is designed to assist those responsible for packing containers and accurately declaring details of their contents to abide by the often-complex regulations contained in the voluminous CTU Code itself.  There is also a useful Checklist of actions required by packers and shippers of containers. 

The Group believes that awareness of the CTU Code is pivotal to achieving safe and secure transport and has followed up the Quick Guide’s publication with provision of its full text in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish and Italian.  An update has now been made available, taking account of feedback, and is downloadable for free HERE

FIATA Director General Stéphane Graber commented, “Providing individuals responsible for packing containers, and in some cases for preparing documentation and declarations, with easier access to all-important safety guidelines in their own language, is key in order to make available practical cutting edge knowledge of packing. Such information goes beyond maritime operations, reflecting  the complexities of intermodal transport in modern day supply chains, and is key to keeping cargo logistics running efficiently.”

Failure to follow the CTU Code advice puts the people who keep the supply chain moving at risk, leading to incidents and accidents that are still all too common. The Group believes that such tragedies in the supply chain are to be avoided – most vividly demonstrated by the too frequent occurrence of container ship fires – higher standards of cargo integrity.

“We are providing clearer guidance through our revised Quick Guide and Checklist to help those responsible for packing cargo transport units, and in particular intermodal containers, to understand the standards expected in international trade,” stated James Hookham, Director of Global Shippers Forum.  “The revised editions recognise the endorsement of all the partner organisations now active in the Cargo Integrity Group and their joint commitment to dissemination of this advice to their respective memberships and wider networks,” he concluded.

Following the successful re-introduction of the Award in 2021 with its record number of entries, the 2022 award will 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.

ICHCA International, the global cargo handling association, launched the 2022 TT Club Innovation in Safety Award today inviting entrants to submit details of their innovations by 11 November 2022. 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. Encouraging safety awareness and advising on effective risk mitigation is core to the Club’s business ethos,” he says.

“TT is therefore proud to have worked closely with ICHCA for a number of years, both in presenting this Award and urging all parties from the IMO and national governments to transport companies, intermediaries and cargo packers, storage facilities and handlers to adopt and constantly improve good practice systems and procedures. 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 2021 Award went to VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S for its HydroPen system designed to fight onboard container fires. HydroPen has recently secured a major contract to supply the entire Maersk fleet, gaining traction to deliver global ship safety.

Those highly commended in this latest Award included PSA International for its video analytics solution to prevent in-terminal collisions and Cargotec’s innovation to inspect containers from below, effectively and safely identifying any damage and ensuring they are free of any invasive pests.

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 with our partner 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 February 2023 where the winners will be announced, those shortlisted will present their entries and innovation will be celebrated once more.

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 primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. 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

TT Club and ICHCA’s concerted efforts to encourage improved levels of safety across the supply chain have brought significant results as evidenced by the number and quality of projects entered into the 2021 Innovation in Safety Awards.  The results of the over 30 organisations submitting their initiatives have now been compiled into a Digest to allow their full potential to be realised across the industry.

London, 31^st May 2022

Initiated in 2016 and hosted by ICHCA International, the TT Club Innovation in Safety Award has been designed not just to recognise excellence in the field but above all to both encourage further resource to be invested in resolving safety issues, and to allow ground-breaking research and development to be accessed by all those operating the global supply chain.

“It is vital that the phenomenal work being carried out by the organisations that enter these Awards be made available to others who can benefit from the improved safety measures that are on display,” says Richard Steele, ICHCA’s CEO. “Consequently, we have produced this Innovation in Safety Awards Digest, which brings together details of a wide variety of products and procedures that achieve a demonstrable improvement in cargo handling and transport safety.” A copy of the Digest in PDF form is available for download HERE

TT Club, as a prominent freight transport insurer, and ICHCA International, the association representing cargo handlers, have long worked together to identify and promote operational safety in the industry.  They consistently generate safety advice and support innovation to improve safety in cargo operations and logistics.

“Our dedication to improve safety standards in the global transport and logistics industry continually is part of the core mission of TT Club as a mutual insurer specialising in liability and asset covers for freight transport and cargo handling operators and cargo handlers,” explains Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT’s Risk Management Director.  “Founding and continuing to support this Innovation in Safety Award programme is central to who TT is and it has been rewarding to see a record number of submissions in 2021.  VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S was announced the winner for its HydroPen system designed to fight onboard container fires. But it is vital that all the innovations that were entered should be profiled in full through this Digest.” 

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 Digest demonstrates the energy deployed globally in enhancing safety and the quality of developments.  It is hoped its publication will further encourage the industry’s commitment to safety efforts throughout the supply chain as a whole.

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 primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. 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

So say TT Club and ICHCA which, with the support of TOC Europe, are emphasising their message by launching an inaugural Safety Village at the upcoming conference and exhibition in Rotterdam between 14^th and 16^th of June. The first of its type, the exhibition space will be dedicated to how innovation can lead to a safer supply chain.

Recent widespread disruption to global supply chains and the consequent pressures on freight transport capacity and cargo handling facilities requires a corresponding focus on safety measures throughout the system. As the success of the TT Club Innovation in Safety Award programme, operated by ICHCA International, has proved, there have been numerous ground-breaking innovations with multiple applications aimed at reducing these safety risks. However, the two organisations are keen to raise the awareness of the need for continuous development of the ways that we manage safety.

Featuring a meeting area and presentation facilities, the TT Club Safety Village will be the venue for workshops and panel sessions throughout the three days of the TOC Europe event. It will also provide opportunities for companies to showcase their innovative safety devices, processes and products. All aimed at championing safety in the supply chain and developing new solutions to managing risks.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director at leading international freight transport insurer, TT Club comments. “It has been TT’s consistent mission to increase the levels of safety across the myriad of operational functions that constitute the global supply chain. We are keen to encourage every type of innovation from securing loads on all modes of transport to the correct handling of dangerous materials, and from safer working practices and equipment in cargo handling facilities to avoidance of vehicle collisions and fire prevention. Providing a focal point for discussion and promotion of such innovations at a leading industry forum such as TOC Europe will be a further benefit to the cause of safety that TT can provide.”

ICHCA International, the representative body for cargo handling operators across the globe, has run TT Club’s Innovation in Safety Award since its inception and is passionate about sharing innovation and learning across the industry. CEO Richard Steele points out, “In the recent past, our efforts together with TT Club have helped promulgate safety innovations including Hapag Lloyd’s Cargo Patrol that detects suspected misdeclared dangerous goods; terminal automation advances from Kunz and Yardeye in cooperation with CSX Terminals; VIKING Life-Saving’s fire suppressant systems, as well as safety devices developed by PSA International and Cargotec. Yet these represent just the tip of the iceberg. We were thrilled to see so many innovative ideas put forward for this Award. A digest of these will be available at the Safety Village and we hope it will help to inspire many other projects in the future.”

Representatives of both TT Club and ICHCA will be present in the Village at TOC Europe and invitations to attend the workshops and presentations will be issued in the near future.

https://www.tocevents-europe.com/en/attend/tt-club-safety-village.html

For information on how to participate in voicing safety concerns at the Safety Village please email:   riskmanagement@ttclub.com

ENDS

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 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

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

February 24, 2022 – The original five partners of the Cargo Integrity Group are excited to welcome the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), strengthening the group in its efforts to improve safety in the global supply chain.

The Cargo Integrity Group brings together international freight transport and cargo handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain.

BIC and FIATA bring valuable complementary perspectives, resources and networks to the group, further deepening its competence and scope. Both organisations have already worked closely with the Cargo Integrity Group and will directly contribute to faster and more effective progress in reducing incidents, accidents, and biosecurity issues in the international supply chain.

“FIATA has long supported the work of the Cargo Integrity Group and has already collaborated with its stakeholders to promote the CTU code through the activities of its Working Group (WG) Sea headed by FIATA Senior Vice-President, Jens Roemer. By joining the group, FIATA reaffirms its commitment to improving the safety and security of sea freight in the best interest of its customers. FIATA is a key component in reaching out to the end customer and making a difference in the implementation of the CIG’s work, while bringing strong safety and security expertise through the
collaboration of its WG Sea and Advisory Body Safety Security,” comments the FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber.

“With safety and sustainability at the very core of BIC’s mission, topics like cargo safety, proper declarations and the avoidance of pest contamination are clearly of high interest to us. We’ve been supporting the promotion of the CTU code in communications both with our members and externally since it was first published, and most recently sponsored one of the CTU Quick Guide translations. We’re pleased to take this next step by joining the group, and look forward to working more closely with our partner organizations in helping increase safety in our industry,” says Douglas Owen, Secretary General of Bureau International des Containers (BIC).

Dedicated to improving the safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain, the Cargo Integrity Group will continue its efforts in is chosen focus areas:

• Collaborating with other industry and governmental stakeholders in promoting awareness and better understanding of safe cargo packing and handling practices such as the CTU Code
• Working to improve regulatory requirements such as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, and
• Working for strengthened cargo screening processes and more effective container inspection regimes.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the Cargo Integrity Group
The Cargo Integrity Group brings together international freight transport and cargo handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain. The Bureau International des Containers, the Container Owners Association, the Global Shippers Forum, the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association, FIATA, the TT Club and the World Shipping Council are co-operating on a range of activities to further the adoption and implementation of crucial safety practices and regulations.

About Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) was founded under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1933 as a neutral, non-profit, international organization. BIC seeks to promote efficiency, safety, security, standardization and sustainability in the container supply chain and today has over 2600 container owning and operating members in 125 countries. Publisher of the BIC Code Register since 1970, BIC also operates the BoxTech Global Container Database (bic-boxtech.org), providing API-accessible equipment details to help improve efficiency and safety in the supply chain, the BIC Facility Code Database, providing harmonized codes to identify over 17,000 container facilities in 160 countries, and the Global ACEP Database. BIC holds official observer status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). www.bic-code.org

About FIATA
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a nongovernmental, membership-based organization representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. FIATA’s membership is composed of 109 Associations Members and more than 5,500 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics’. www.fiata.org

Cargo Integrity Group Media Contacts

Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
Douglas Owen, Secretary General, douglas.owen@bic-code.org

Container Owners Association (COA)
Patrick Hicks, Secretary, secretary@containerownersassociation.org

Global Shippers Forum (GSF)
James Hookham, Secretary General, jhookham@globalshippersforum.com

International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA International)
Maria Udy, Media contact, Portcare International, maria@portcare.com

FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations)
Stéphane Graber, Director General, communications@fiata.org

TT Club
Peter Owen, Media contact, Portcare International, info@portcare.com

World Shipping Council (WSC)
Anna Larsson, Communications Director, alarsson@worldshipping.org