A packer lies motionless inside a 40 foot container. As workmates rush forward, the supervisor shouts, “Stop”. Surely, it’s only an empty steel box! So, what can be dangerous about a steel box?
The target of 50% of all bills of lading to be electronic within the next decade has been set by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) in an announcement made last week. The international freight transport insurer, TT Club welcomes the commitment by the group of container shipping lines that together operate nearly 70% of the world's capacity.
The announcement of another fire on board a container ship early in January 2020 – the first publicised this year – reinforce the vital importance of increasing rigour around the transport of dangerous goods (and not just by sea).
How often is a deficiency found but not acted upon, or an incident occurs, and it is not reported? Loss and near miss reporting has always been a thorny topic, but needs to rise above issues of corporate and national culture.
