TT Club

The specialist freight transport insurer has long campaigned for heightening awareness of freight crime and the need for additional security and policing resources.  TT therefore greatly welcomed the recent cross-party parliamentary debate on the issue, and the resulting support for increased Governmental resource to resolve the growing risk.

London, 12^th December 2024

The UK’s House of Commons debate held earlier this month was a significant step in highlighting an issue that has a high degree of impact on public safety and the UK’s economy, in particular its future growth much relied upon by the current Government. It also acknowledged the lack of resource specifically targeted at fighting freight crime.   

National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is under-supported and under-funded. Their specialist freight crime investigation team currently has just one full-time serving police officer on secondment, a part-time analyst and a part-time data entry clerk. It does not have the resources to tackle organised crime on a national scale.

TT has long supported NaVCIS financially and practically. Mike Yarwood its MD Loss Prevention said, “We very much welcomed the airing of this issue at a legislative level.  The detailed aspects of both opportunistic and well planned theft; the lack of secure overnight parking facilities; the identification of crime hotspots as well as concerns over driver safety, which is discouraging female recruits, were all discussed and their significance put into perspective as priorities to be addressed.”

The UK’s road haulage industry, which moves 89% of all goods and 98% of agricultural and food products in the country contributes £13.5 billion to the economy. This represents 5.6% of the UK’s GDP. Every pound generated by the logistics industry creates three pounds down the supply chain and contributes to the economy, highlighting the widespread impact of freight crime for the UK.

Pointing to these facts Rachel Taylor MP, who led the parliamentary debate outlined the principle political implication, “Tackling freight crime is essential to achieving the Government’s five missions,” she said.

TT will maintain its efforts. Yarwood is vice-chair of the industry-led HGV Parking Capacity and Standards Task and Finish group, which the UK’s Department for Transport helped establish. Yarwood is leading the workstream focused on standards at lorry parking facilities and working with NaVCIS Freight and other industry stakeholders is producing an industry led report, which will advise the government on recommendations to reduce freight crime. 

“Our report is aimed at providing a detailed analysis of the current state of freight crime and offer practical solutions to enhance security and reduce incidents. In underscoring the importance of industry and government working together to safeguard the logistics sector, we hope our collaboration will encourage others to add their weight to the efforts fight crime,” concluded Yarwood.

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. Its mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail and air. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years.

https://www.ttclub.com

International freight insurer, TT Club, announces the appointment of Kamel Tlili as Chief Executive of its Singapore branch as Yiah Soon Ng retires after leading Thomas Miller’s Singapore office since 2009.

London & Singapore, 27 November 2024

After five years as Chief Executive for TT Club and having led Thomas Miller’s Singapore operations for 15 years, Yiah Soon (YS) Ng has announced his retirement. He is succeeded as Chief Executive by Kamel Tlili, TT Club’s Regional General Manager Asia Pacific, who took over the role in September.

Kamel was appointed Regional General Manager Asia Pacific 12 months ago and will now additionally act as CE Singapore Branch.  He is well known in the marine mutual community, having previously spent 14 years at TT’s sister mutual, UK P&I Club, both as an Underwriting Director and Claims Director and six years leading British Marine’s P&I Underwriting division in Asia at QBE. During his first year at TT Club, he has advanced the Club’s reputation in South East Asia as a market leading provider of mutual insurance to the transport and logistics industry, with unparalleled loss prevention support for its membership.

Speaking of the appointment, Kevin King, TT Club CEO said, “In the brief time since returning to Thomas Miller, Kamel has already made great headway in expanding the Club’s reach in the Singapore and wider South East Asian markets, ensuring the Club’s Members and the broader insurance market know that TT is committed to providing unparalleled local support and coverage.”

YS joined Thomas Miller (S.E. Asia) Pty Ltd in 1997 as claims manager for both TT Club and UK P&I Club’s Singapore Branch. In 2009, YS was appointed as Chief Executive of the UK P&I Club Branch, before also being appointed as Chief Executive for the TT Club’s Singapore Branch in 2017. He has held the role of General Manager of the Thomas Miller Singapore office since 2009. 

“YS has been instrumental in leading the Club’s operations in Singapore, and I am grateful to have had his support during my first year at TT Club,” said Kamel. “He has laid the solid foundation on which we will build over the coming years; Singapore is a critical hub for the South East Asian market and it is fitting for TT to further consolidate a strong presence for its local membership. I look forward to leading this effort. ”

Kamel began his new role as Chief Executive, Singapore Branch on 1 September 2024.

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. Its mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail and air. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years.

https://www.ttclub.com

The latest analysis from international freight insurer, TT Club, resilience and security network, Transported Asset Protection Association, and business improvement consultants BSI SCREEN, reports dramatic increase in freight crime in Italy with incidents of theft quadrupling in the last two years.

London, 27 November 2024

The report highlights:

• More than 400% increase in the frequency of insurance claims since 2021
• Nearly a third of claims arising from theft from vehicles parked insecurely or at the roadside
• The region of Lombardy as the region with the highest rates of cargo theft
• Significant lack of secure parking with only one space per 289 trucks
• Notable increase in cargo theft from rail
• Emerging trend of drone usage by criminals to investigate possible target sites

TT Club, in collaboration with BSI SCREEN and TAPA EMEA, underscores the increasing threat to the Italian supply chain pose chiefly by organised crime and its sophisticated theft methods.  The extensive report, which draws on the wide-reaching data resources of the three organisations, shines a spotlight on the dynamic and evolving nature of freight crime in Italy, and the steps necessary to combat the threat. 

Like many countries, Italy is seeing a rise in strategically planned cargo theft, with criminal groups employing ever more sophisticated means to infiltrate the legitimate supply chain. The report highlights however that Italy is particularly attractive to thieves due to its well-known market of luxury and designer goods. Indeed, clothing, apparel and pharmaceuticals are noted as the most targeted commodities.

“Italy is not alone in experiencing concerning increases in cargo theft,” comments Josh Finch, Logistics Risk Manager at TT Club. “We are seeing the same trends across the board, with major highways and industrial hubs becoming key targets for criminals. The statistics clearly highlight the key issue: cargo at rest, unsecurely parked, parked on the roadside, around these main intersections, is most at risk.”

“A lack of access to safe and secure parking is a global problem, of which Italy is an acute example,” comments Panayiotis Laimos, Standards and Training Support, TAPA EMEA. “At TAPA, we create standards that focus on all risks within an end-to-end supply chain risk mitigation model. We must focus on a ‘goods at rest are goods at risk’ strategy and combine people and technology on the best way.”

The co-authors outline the increasingly sophisticated means used by criminals to access cargo, specifically the emerging use of drones as a reconnaissance tool. “Many modern drones may operate for 30+ minutes, more than enough time to stake out a site, noting its vulnerabilities, the location of security cameras and guard stations. They are quiet, have excellent visibility and are often difficult to spot; we have even seen cases of drones entering warehouse facilities unobserved through open bay doors. In this way, thieves are increasingly able to build a profile of the goods that are stored and exactly where to find them,” explains Finch.

As with all awareness reports of this nature, TT and its co-authors are keen to offer guidance on how such theft risks can be alleviated with advice. The report contains preventative measures ranging from drone-disabling technology, radio frequency jammers, secure parking technology and the crucial importance of due diligence. “With the help of our partners, utilising a wide range of in-depth data resources, TT is committed to lifting the lid on international cargo crime to ensure the industry is better equipped to mitigate both large-scale and attritional cargo theft losses,” concludes Finch.

The full report is available for free download TT Club, BSI and TAPA EMEA | Freight crime in Italian Supply Chains

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. Its mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail and air. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years.

https://www.ttclub.com

About BSI

BSI is the business improvement and standards company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence, ‘inspiring trust for a more resilient world’. For over a century BSI has driven best practice in organizations around the world. Working with over 77,500 clients across 195 countries, it is a truly global business with skills and experience across all sectors including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards and Knowledge, Assurance Services, Regulatory Services and Consulting Services, BSI helps clients to improve their performance, grow sustainably, manage risk and ultimately become more resilient.

To learn more, please visit: www.bsigroup.com

About BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions
BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions is the leading global provider of supply chain intelligence, global supply chain verification auditing services, audit compliance and risk management software solutions, and advisory services. BSI’s supply chain services and solutions and services can work independently to address specific needs or combined together to gain unparalleled visibility into your global operations. Implementing BSI’s holistic supply chain risk management suite provides organizations with a complete solution for a more sustainable and secure supply chain.

To learn more, please visit www.bsigroup.com/supplychain

London, 14^th November 2024

TT Club’s celebrated advocate to the cause of risk mitigation and safety in the freight industry, Peregrine Storrs-Fox has stepped down as the mutual’s Risk Management Director and now takes on a consultancy role to further offer his expertise to TT’s membership and the industry at large.

After 40 years with the international insurance provider during which he started as a Claims Handler and worked up to global Claims Director, Storrs-Fox spent the last 22 years developing and enhancing TT’s now much heralded loss prevention function.  Valued by those insured by TT as a service proven to assist in ongoing operational risk, the loss prevention work initiated and overseen by Peregrine has significantly improved the safety and security of global freight supply chains.

Congratulating Peregrine on his achievements over his long career, TT Club CEO, Kevin King, said “It is impossible to overstate the significant loss prevention initiatives in which Peregrine has taken a leading role. His risk management knowledge is unique, his research meticulous and his communication skills renowned.  Peregrine has been particularly effective in bringing disparate interest groups together to present a united front.”

Tackling the causes of container fires has been one of Peregrine’s more persistent missions; helping all those engaged in the global supply chain to understand and uphold their responsibilities to declare, pack and handle not just hazardous cargoes but also to recognise the potential damage that may be caused by less obviously dangerous materials.

His influential work on VGM (verified gross mass) in the process leading to IMO regulation, and background analysis of required amendments to IMDG and CTU Codes have been critical in advancing safety in the transport industry.  In this Peregrine has demonstrated his ability to combine the efforts of many organisations and companies across the industry to achieve common safety and security goals. 

The success of the Club’s Innovation in Safety Award and its associated promotional programme is a great example of how his commitment has made a real difference in inspiring new technologies and enhanced procedures to improve the safety of crew, shore workers, cargo, infrastructure and the environment.  

“Peregrine will continue to provide his expertise and experience to the industry by fulfilling the role of consultant to TT,” said Mike Yarwood, TT’s MD Loss Prevention in adding his voice to praise Peregrine’s contributions over a long career, “He has dedicated most of his career to TT’s mission to make the global transport and logistics industry safer, more secure, and more sustainable.  I’m delighted that Peregrine is continuing to support our growing loss prevention function.”

His consultancy role began as of 1^st October.

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, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 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

Steady growth in flexitank usage around the world prompts container owners and specialist insurer to offer safety guidelines to assist shippers, forwarders, carriers and terminals to handle cargo carried in these units with minimal risk. 

Global freight insurance provider, TT Club has issued the latest in its series of Stop Loss publications together with the Container Owners Association (COA).  Focusing on the increasingly popular flexitank unit to ship bulk liquid cargoes, Flexitanks in the supply chain – defining safe operations seeks to identify the applicable risks, highlight good practice and provide practical risk mitigation guidance for those in the supply chain who procure, fit, pack, unpack and handle cargoes being shipped in flexitanks.

It is intended to be consulted and used in conjunction with the IMO/ILO/ UNECE Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code¹) and the Container Owners Association’s (COA) Flexitank Code of Practice².

In recommending the Stop Loss document, Mike Yarwood TT’s MD Loss Prevention said, “An increasing number of shippers recognise the benefits of shipping their bulk liquid cargoes in flexitanks. The demand continues to grow globally and both TT and the COA consider our publishing of these guidelines timely in order to maintain the safety of the process.”

As in essence a large single use bladder with valves that fits inside a general purpose freight container, the flexitank operates as part of a system which includes the container, its fittings and restraining equipment. While there are advantages to their use in transporting liquids the context of the system as a whole does require additional considerations and risks at various stages of the supply chain. These include cargo compatibility and transit circumstances. 

Various liquids are commonly carried from fruit juices to molasses and from edible oils to pharmaceutical products.  Each commodity has considerations for the material from which the flexitank is made, the nature of valves and pipework, and serious reflection on the potential damage caused should leaks occur.  Multi-modal transits, enabled by the use of containers bring concerns over intermodal terminal awareness of and expertise in flexitank operation as well as the consequences of variable movement and temperature conditions.

The involvement of the COA in the preparation of the Stop Loss has been invaluable in bringing the vast experience of members in the safe operation of these units and the implementation of best practice throughout the supply chain to which both TT and the COA are dedicated.  This Stop Loss is aimed at advancing the cause of improved safety.

Flexitanks in the supply chain – defining safe operations can be downloaded HERE

¹IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) | UNECE

²COA Flexitank Code of Practice V6-O Operators 07.2019

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, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 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 COA

The Container Owners Association (COA) is an international organization representing the common interests of all owners of freight containers. Its principle aims are to develop standards in order to enhance industry efficiency, to disseminate information through conferences, training and education, to promote the safe of operation of containers and to strengthen environmental awareness. Full Members of the Association include container shipping lines, leasing companies and intermodal operators, while Associate Membership is open to suppliers of a wide range of container equipment, systems and services.

www.containerownersassociation.com

New “Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers” have been issued by CINS, with the cooperation of the international Group (IG) of P&I insurance providers and TT Club. The regulatory requirements for transport by sea are outlined and additional precautionary measures proposed.

London, 3rd October 2024

The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS), a safety initiative representing container shipping lines and maritime insurance interests has launched its latest advisory publication, ‘Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers’.  It contains the provisions set out in the maritime dangerous goods regulations for the transport of this potentially combustible commodity, which is commonly shipped in volume, explaining these measures and providing additional guidance for all involved in this complex international supply chain.

The packaging, declaration and transport of charcoal must comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.  Significant new provisions have been agreed by the IMO (Amendment 42-24) and will come into transitional effect from 1 January 2025 with mandatory compliance required as of 2026. The Amendment means charcoal will no longer benefit from any IMDG code exemption.  The Guidelines however strongly recommend early adoption of the new regulations and explain in detail how compliance may be achieved. 

The CINS Guidelines, prepared and published in conjunction with the IG and international freight and logistics insurer TT Club, states, “It is estimated that global production of charcoal for domestic and export markets is over 50 million tonnes per year¹. From the incident records created by CINS members, it is known that there were at least 68 fire incidents on board ships  between January 2015 and December 2022. Most of these incidents were caused by misdeclared cargo and therefore the carrier was not aware of the hazards presented.”

The practices set out in the document are intended to address safety concerns, recognising that the key driver for change arises from charcoal intended as a fuel for burning.  The guidance also notes that there are other technical types of charcoal, such as used for art materials, which have a different risk profile, urging carriers to establish effective due diligence processes.

In view of the sensitivity of this fuel cargo and history of incidents, the publishers are recommending that it should be treated as dangerous goods, regardless of current or previous regulatory provisions. It is vital to ensure that this cargo is properly prepared, declared and packaged for safe transportation.

To download the Guidelines, click on this link: CINS CHARCOAL GUIDELINES

¹2020 Global Forest Products Facts and Figures of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (https://www.fao.org/ faostat/en/#data/FO)

About CINS — Cargo Incident Notification System

CINS is a shipping line initiative, launched in September 2011, to improve safety in the supply chain, reduce the number of cargo incidents on-board ships and on land, and highlight the risks caused by certain cargoes and/or packing failures. Membership of CINS comprises over 80 percent of the world’s container slot capacity, together with the Members of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

CINS provides analysis of operational information on cargo and container incidents which lead to injury or loss of life, loss or serious damage of assets, environmental concerns. Data relating to any cargo incident on-board a ship is uploaded to the CINS database. The data includes information on cargo type, nature, packaging, weight; journey (load and discharge ports); type of incident and root cause.  The Technical Advisory Committee is a CINS committee that includes Members of CINS and leading professional experts in relevant fields.

About The International Group of P&I Clubs (the International Group)

The International Group is comprised of 12 P&I Clubs that between them provide marine liability cover (protection and indemnity) for approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.

Through the unique International Group structure, the member Clubs, whilst individually competitive, share between them their large loss exposures, and also share their respective knowledge and expertise on matters relating to shipowners’ liabilities and the insurance and reinsurance of such liabilities.

Each Group Club is an independent, not-for-profit mutual insurance association, providing cover for its shipowner and charterer members against third party liabilities arising out of the use and operation of ships. Each Club is owned by its shipowner and charterer members, and its operations and activities are overseen by a board of directors, or committee, elected from the membership. The day-to-day operations of the Clubs are handled by professional managers, either “in-house” or external, who are appointed by and report to their Club board/committee.

The Clubs cover a wide range of liabilities, including loss of life and personal injury to crew, passengers and others on board, cargo loss and damage, pollution by oil and other hazardous substances, wreck removal, collision and damage to property. The Clubs also provide a wide range of services to their members including claims handling, advice on legal issues and loss prevention, and they regularly play a leading role in coordinating the response to, and management of, maritime casualties.

The International Group of P&I Clubs (igpandi.org)

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. The Club’s services include specialist underwriting, claims management and risk and loss management advice, supported by a global office network. TT Club’s mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. 

Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies. Its membership covers the entire logistics journey, working across maritime, road, rail, and air ranging from some of the world’s largest logistics operators to smaller, bespoke companies managing similar risks. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years. 

TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller – an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

www.ttclub.com

Panama City/London, 26 September 2024 – FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, together with TT Club, a leading provider of insurance and risk management services for the international freight transport sector, is excited to announce the Global winner of this year’s Young Logistics Professionals Award (YLP) at the 2024 FIATA World Congress held in Panama City, Panama.

We are delighted to announce Laura Cristin Egerer, the Region Europe Winner nominated by Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik (DSLV), whose remarkable achievements have earned her the title of this year’s global winner. Her dissertation, Reliable Logistics Solutions in an Unreliable Environment, explored the export of an oversized combustion chamber and the import of a dangerous goods sea freight shipment, which she presented in her live session in Panama. Her solution-oriented approach to these complex cargo movements demonstrates both her expertise and innovative thinking.

Turgut Erkeskin, President of FIATA, remarked, “For over twenty years, FIATA and TT Club have been providing valuable training opportunities for the young rising stars of the industry by organising a yearly contest. The competition demonstrates the recognition by FIATA and TT Club of the need to develop skilled human resources in the freight forwarding and logistics sector and to acknowledge young talents. This award is a unique experience for young professionals, allowing them to gain more experience in the industry and connections throughout the competition. Congratulations to Laura and all the finalists for their contributions and for illustrating the bright future of our industry.”

Michael Yarwood, Managing Director Loss Prevention at TT Club, shared: ““The challenges facing the modern logistics sector are varied and complex; perhaps more so than in any other period in the history of global trade. The professionality, initiative and creativity of our talented young logistics practitioners is, we believe critical in maintaining the stability of world trade now and in the future. As TT has always been committed to improving that stability, we support without question the YLP programme and congratulate Laura Cristin Egerer, all the finalists and FIATA for its continued efforts in nurturing young talent.”

The 2024 FIATA World Congress, held in the strategically significant capital city of Panama, placed a spotlight on young talents with a dedicated full day of activities. As a global hub for logistics, Panama plays a central role in connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, making it a fitting location for an event celebrating innovation and youth engagement in the logistics industry. During the YLP day, the four global finalists shared their inspiring stories of dedication and the self-development journey they embarked on to reach this important milestone in their careers. Each winner reflected on the intensive preparation process and the support they received throughout their journey. This year’s Congress featured a YLP Talk Show, where attendees had the unique opportunity to actively participate by voting for their favourite contestant. This event showed FIATA’s and TT Club unwavering commitment to empowering young professionals and fostering the next generation of leaders in logistics.

As the logistics sector continues to evolve, FIATA and TT Club remain dedicated to making this competition more inclusive and encouraging for all young professionals. By fostering innovation and unlocking potential, we are helping to shape an industry where the brightest talents are at the forefront of progress and transformation.

About FIATA

FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 territories. FIATA’s membership is composed of 113 Associations Members and more than 6,000 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’.

communications@fiata.org

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, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 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

Prompted by the recent spate of container ship fires, international freight and logistics insurance provider TT Club has stressed the greater need for all players in the global supply chain to recognise their responsibility for accurate and effective communication between all parties for the transport of dangerous goods.

The occurrence of four major incidents aboard container ships, two in port and another two at sea within the last four months has prompted TT to reiterate its long standing fervent message for shippers and those facilitating the supply chain to be more diligent over how their cargoes are classified, packaged, packed, declared and handled.

The sad list of both explosions and fires extends from ‘Northern Juvenile’ in the South China Sea in May, to ‘Maersk Frankfurt’ in the Indian Ocean to more recent incidents in quick succession, which involved ‘MSC Cape Town III’ in Colombo and ‘YM Mobility’ in Ningbo.  “The causes remain under investigation,” says TT’s Peregrine Storrs-Fox. “However, there are strong indications that potentially explosive chemicals and fire accelerators, such as lithium-ion batteries, may be involved in at least two of the cases.  As with historic incidents, it is likely that various errors occurred as the shipments were initiated and the exact nature of the cargoes was communicated to supply chain counterparties, giving rise again to ‘perfect storms’.  Every participant in the process needs to act in the best interests of safety at every point in these cargoes’ journeys.”

This spike in serious container ship fires is reminiscent of the spate in 2019, although the 30 year average frequency may remain one every 60 days – but any life-threatening event is one too many. Of the recent four, unusually two took place while the ship was berthed and shore-side emergency services responded quickly to minimise damage and loss of life – although pollution and potential berth blockage risks emerged.  When incidents occur at sea much more serious consequences can develop, as exemplified by ‘Maersk Frankfurt’, where one crewman lost his life, the fire burnt for several days and the ship remains with salvors at sea.

The exact number of containers carrying dangerous goods that are shipped annually is difficult to estimate due to mis- and non-declaration. Partly in response to the issues around inaccurate declaration, the IMO amended the ‘Guidelines for the implementation of the inspection programmes for cargo transport units’^[1] in 2022 to urge governments to inspect all types of unit, regardless of the declared cargo. The recently released consolidated results, from just eight countries (or 5% of the signatory states), for 2023 evidence continuing safety concerns.

Although, from the minute sample size of about 0.03% of containerised traffic, ‘placarding and marking’ shows some improvement, this deficiency, being for first visual alert for many stakeholders and particularly emergency responders, remains stubbornly above 40%. Further, reports noting deficiencies in ‘Stowage and Securing’ (within units) – a core CTU Code issue – indicates a rapidly worsening trend over the last five years and the worst position since reports began in 2001. Also of note is the five year worsening trend relating to errors found in documentation, another key risk indicator. Care of every shipment requires good communication along the supply chain, due diligence undertaken by every player and a culture of ‘know your customer and operating partner’.

“In this regard, we applaud the recent statement by China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) that underlined shippers’ responsibilities, in addition to those of the carriers’^[2]. Such warnings and encouragements by regulatory authorities are to be welcomed. However, TT would reiterate the statement that regulations merely set the baseline,” concluded TT’s Storrs-Fox

ENDS

^[1] MSC.1/Circ.1649

² Quote from the MSA statement as per a translation provided by Lloyd’s List.

Shippers are required to take safety measures including proper packaging and temperature control, and promptly notify carriers of correct dangerous goods names, quantities, hazards, emergency temperatures (if needed), and emergency response measures.

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, more secure, and more sustainable. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1500 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

[1] MSC.1/Circ.1649

[2] Quote from the MSA statement as per a translation provided by Lloyd’s List.

Shippers are required to take safety measures including proper packaging and temperature control, and promptly notify carriers of correct dangerous goods names, quantities, hazards, emergency temperatures (if needed), and emergency response measures.

While the volumes of containers lost at sea fluctuates year on year, typically influenced by the more severe of weather conditions, the challenge is persistent.  International freight insurer TT Club stands with the container industry in seeking to preclude these losses.

Understanding the circumstances that lead to stack collapse and losses overboard incidents is of course vital in mitigating the risk. TT applauds the World Shipping Council initiative to publish the details of the annual survey^[1] into container loss and recognises the lowest level of recorded losses during 2023, including the important fact that around 33% of units initially lost are subsequently recovered.

Nevertheless, TT’s own analysis of historic incidents clearly shows that weather is the single most influential factor. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that this is far more complex a challenge, involving a wide range of interconnected operations.

“In this context TT has been involved from conception with the MARIN^[2] TopTier Joint Industry Project,” emphasises TT’s Peregrine Storrs-Fox.  “This on-going project has drawn together over forty industry and governmental stakeholders in identifying and resolving the circumstances that lead to such incidents. It has already delivered important guidance relating to mitigating parametric roll risks and the Club will continue to be involved in the debates, particularly at the IMO, following the finalisation of the research.”

While focus is, not wholly unreasonably, mostly on ship operations, TT has long recognised that all participants in the freight supply chain carry responsibility. When the transport order is initially placed the accuracy of the verified gross mass (VGM) is pivotal, as is the correct load distribution and securing when packing cargo into the container. Consequently, TT’s cargo integrity campaign remains central to its work[, alongside partners in the Cargo Integrity Group].

At the ship/port interface, the terminal operating system (TOS) must support the appropriate stowage on board the ship, alongside stow planning software.  These systems need to plan heavier containers lower in any given deck stack.  Storrs-Fox comments, “TopTier studies have identified discrepancies up to 20% between planned stow versus the actual final stow on board. If representative of all operations, this is itself alarming.”

As to environmental factors, TT’s analyses identified potential commonalities across several incidents.  Wave height was amongst the more obvious attributes, but wave length and period appeared to be of even greater importance. Indeed, it was recognised that wave period is responsible for resonant phenomena, such as parametric roll and synchronous rolling, that can give rise to stow collapses and losses overboard.

Through its Innovation in Safety award, TT has also been searching for developing technological solutions.  The two complementary digital and engineering solutions, both developed by Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore (TVO), apply well-established systems from the offshore industry, firstly to enhance monitoring capabilities, predicting and detecting parametric roll, and secondly fundamentally re-imagine lashing systems to reduce container motion and control the dynamics of container stacks.

Conventional wisdom remains that heavy storms should be avoided where possible to minimise the risk of container loss. Re-routing away from the Red Sea this year has exposed many voyages to extreme weather off southern Africa. Nevertheless, deployment of innovative technology can assist in building greater safety margins, including leveraging data capture to improve understanding and predictions of changing sea conditions.

“Ships will never be able to avoid the impact of heavy seas entirely,” concludes Storrs-Fox.  “Consequently TT, in furtherance of its mission to make the global logistics industry safer, more secure and more sustainable, continues with its efforts on this issue and urges industry colleagues to do likewise.” 

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. The Club’s services include specialist underwriting, claims management and risk and loss management advice, supported by a global office network. TT Club’s mission is to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. 

Established in 1968, TT Club currently services more than 1400 Members – container owners, operators, ports, terminals and logistics companies. Its membership covers the entire logistics journey, working across maritime, road, rail, and air ranging from some of the world’s largest logistics operators to smaller, bespoke companies managing similar risks. The Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. Its average annual customer retention rate is consistently over 95%, with some Members having chosen to insure with the Club for over 50 years. 

TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller – an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

www.ttclub.com

[1] https://www.worldshipping.org/news/world-shipping-council-releases-containers-lost-at-sea-report-2024-update

[2] Marine Research Institute Netherlands