Safety is a key factor of sustainability.

No port can grow sustainably with costly accidents creating claims and driving up insurance premiums. Recent events suggest that windstorms and extreme weather events are becoming less predictable, more severe and affecting areas previously considered low risk. 

Ensuring your port operations are safe and secure should be top priority. Here we aim to cover all aspects of port and terminal safety including quay crane risks, climatic risks, due diligence and contractual challenges, cargo theft and damage, misdeclaration, fire safety and much more.

However, if you have any concerns that are not covered here, you can always submit an enquiry on the right or email us at riskmanagement@ttclub.com.

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Port and terminal risks: quay container cranes

Quay container crane accidents are the biggest cause of insurance claims for TT Club's port and terminal Members. As the impacts of climate change become more prominent, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, increasing the risk of quay crane collapses. Such incidents can be extremely costly with damage to equipment, disruption or reduction in operations and, at worst, loss of life.

Port-safety news & insights

Whether for bulk handling or container operations, the quayside crane is critical for performing ship to shore services. This vital tool is also vulnerable to significant damage when impacted by a ship during berthing. While relatively low frequency, such incidents carry high consequence in direct damage, business disruption and potential for injury.

Analysis of TT Club's claims experience continues to highlight the vulnerability of quay cranes, other handling equipment and containers to major weather related incidents at marine terminals. Despite the large mass, it is not uncommon for these cranes to be blown along the crane rails, potentially into other equipment or toppling over, giving rise to extensive damage.

Apart from the recent devastating explosion in Beirut, there has been a spate of ro-ro/car carrier fires in recent months, leading to fresh calls for improvements, scrutiny and control in relation to dangerous goods (DG). Container ship fires are always in mind.

TT Club, a leading international insurance provider specialising in the cargo handling sector and an Associate Member of the British Ports Association (BPA) has prepared a short paper for UK ports and terminals to consider as part of their risk assessment and management plans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Uncollected cargo has long been a challenge for stakeholders in the supply chain. Notwithstanding the attention, debate and advice around the topic, it remains at the forefront of logistics operators' minds. Every year the delay or failure of the consignee to collect cargo results in substantial storage, demurrage and detention costs. Such issues are invariably complex and require expensive management time to resolve.

Port safety publications

Ports & terminals cover

No two ports or terminals are the same, which is why we tailor-make policies to reflect the risks you face.

As well as port liability risks, TT Club cover can be tailored to address the combination of commercial and environmental risks faced by port authorities and terminal operators.