Geneva, 29 June 2021 – FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations and the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce collaboration between the two organizations. A signing ceremony took place online today and was attended by FIATA and ICHCA representatives, as well as respective members.

FIATA represents the freight forwarding industry by advocating trade facilitation policies and promoting best practices in the supply chain to speak with a unified voice in support of freight forwarding associations and logistics companies. ICHCA is dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and goods movement by all modes and through all phases of national and international supply chains.

The MoU facilitates close coordination between FIATA and ICHCA to help them pursue their respective organizational goals and further mutual understanding. The MoU also creates the framework for cooperation that will enable both organizations to benefit from agreed actions and initiatives to achieve common objectives.

“Cooperation with key industry organizations is critical to the safe and efficient performance of today’s increasingly complex supply chains,” said FIATA President, Basil Pietersen. “The renewal of our MoU with ICHCA provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen our collaboration and review our common goals. As we set sail into this new chapter of our partnership, I am confident that we will achieve the objectives set in this new cooperation agreement.”

The identified areas for collaboration in the MoU include the engagement of all actors in safety and security-related topics, the digitalization of the supply chain, the improvement and reinforcement of operational efficiency, and regulatory and policy developments around the world that may impact on the activities of the supply chain.

“By renewing and strengthening our MoU with FIATA, the two organizations can work more effectively in pursuing our common goals and objectives,” said ICHCA International’s Chair, John Beckett. “We remain committed to our efforts to improve safety, security and sustainability in the global logistics supply chain, especially at the ship/port interface.”

FIATA and ICHCA share a long history. Their collaboration has been ongoing for more than 25 years, with their first MoU signed in 2006. Since then, both organizations have engaged in different activities and meetings: to improve the carriage of packaged dangerous goods, elaborate and publish information material relating to carriage of dangerous goods, and take initiatives to actively influence the regulatory work at the UN.

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.com.

London, 28 October 2020

National Cargo Bureau, the New York based cargo inspection company and Exis Technologies, global leaders in IT solutions for shipping dangerous goods by sea are pleased to announce that they have joined the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) under a group corporate membership. Exis Technologies, which has been part of the NCB Group since April 2018, had previously been an individual member of ICHCA for over 10 years.

Exis Technologies and ICHCA have worked together on many joint projects over the past decade, including, with sponsorship from the TT Club, the CTU pack e-learning courses for those involved in container packing job roles and IMDG Code e-learning courses for shore side staff handling and transporting dangerous goods by sea.

As part of the membership Captain Eric Rounds, Chief Surveyor NCB will join the ICHCA Technical Panel alongside Will Bartle, Compliance and Regulations Manager at Exis Technologies. The Panel provides technical advice and publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues and will allow NCB and Exis to be involved in the improvement of knowledge and best practice across the global cargo chain.

Richard Brough OBE, Head of ICHCA commented, “We are delighted that the NCB Group have decided to join us under a group corporate membership. Together the companies bring a wealth of container and dangerous goods shipping experience. We have worked with Exis for many years on initiatives to improve cargo handling. We look forward to building on our relationship with Exis and NCB to develop more solutions for our members and the wider shipping community.”

Ian Lennard, President of NCB, commented, “ICHCA is an important part of the global cargo handling community. Like us, they are a not-for-profit organisation, and their focus is on improving the safety and security of our global supply chains. We are pleased to be able to join them alongside Exis in our mission to improve the Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea.”

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About National Cargo Bureau

The National Cargo Bureau was incorporated as a non-profit organization in May 1952 with a mission of “Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea”. The Bureau was created to render assistance to the United States Coast Guard in discharging its responsibilities under the 1948 International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea which addressed the carriage of Dangerous Goods and Grain cargos for the first time. NCB operates in 18 offices throughout the United States. These locations are supplemented globally by a network of vetted and approved marine surveyors. Exis Technologies, headquartered in Darlington, UK, has been part of the NCB Group since April 2018. Together their not-for-profit mission is the Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea. http://www.natcargo.org

About Exis Technologies

Exis, part of the NCB Group, has been a leading supplier of IT compliance systems for the management of dangerous goods in sea transport for over 30 years. Major container shipping lines, ports and shippers have been relying on Hazcheck Systems for regulatory compliance, efficiency and safety in their global operations. In recent years, Exis has developed new solutions with NCB including a portal for sharing operator, vessel and port restrictions among ports and operators; a web-based database and access portal for inspection companies to plan and enter details of cargo inspections; and a cargo screening service to identify misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods. www.existec.com

About ICHCA

The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), founded in 1952, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and goods movement by all modes and through all phases of national and international supply chains.

ICHCA International’s privileged non-government organisation (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. Its Expert Panel provides technical advice and publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues.

ICHCA International operates through a series of autonomous national and regional chapters – including ICHCA Australia, ICHCA Japan and ICHCA Canarias/Africa (CARC) – plus Correspondence and Working Groups to provide a focal point for informing, educating, networking, shaping and sharing industry views to improve knowledge and best practice across the global cargo chain www.ichca.com