Dive Brief:
- An analysis of Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) data from last year revealed a majority of seaborne cargo-related incidents, and the consequent damage claims, were preventable.
- The shipping line association claims 34% of incidents were caused by poor or incorrectly packaged goods, while another 32% were caused by misdeclared goods.
- Flammable, corrosive or otherwise hazardous goods were responsible for 32% of incidents. However, seemingly "inert" goods, liquid or solid, caused a vast majority (68%) of the incidents.
Dive Insight:
To combat misdeclarations and poor packing practices which are causing shipping lines costly delays, the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee's recently updated Safety of Life at Sea treaty provides packers with an opportunity to update practices to prevent future damage. The treaty requires shippers to communicate containers' verified gross mass prior to stowing, which could allow for increased scrutiny on packing practices for troublesome goods.
For that reason, the CINS is looking to develop standard guidelines for packing troublesome goods. Since its founding in 2011, the association has published guidelines for the container transport of calcium hypochlorite and coiled materials. The most recent meeting's agenda reveals the association also plans to release guidelines for self-reacting cargoes (IMDG-7).
