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New packing guide is required reading
[ January 22, 2020 // Chris ]With mandatory enforcement of the latest version of the IMDG Code, (Amendment 39-18) from 1 January insurers are urging the container shipping industry and shippers to give more attention to the causes and consequences of ship fires. They have issued a joint guide outlining the responsibilities of all stakeholders.
‘Book it Right and Pack it Tight’ is available free and gives an overview of the practical duties and responsibilities under the IMDG Code for each stakeholder.
Stuart Edmonston, UK P&I’’s loss prevention director, commented: “Our chief aim is to minimise risk for our members and the industry we serve,” he says. “The recent spate of container ship fires with the consequent loss of life, damage to ships and cargo, and trade disruption has been a major concern. UK P&I continues to participate in initiatives which focus on the capability to detect, suppress and extinguish fires at sea. However we share our sister organisation’s desire to tackle the causes of such fires at source.”
Peregrine Storrs-Fox, risk management director at insurers the TT Club, said: “There are far too many errors in classification and declaration of commodities to be transported. These are often amplified by poor decisions and practices relating to packaging, packing, segregation and securing. Such errors severely compromise safety in a variety of ways, but most critically when the goods should be rightly be described as dangerous in a regulated sense and, here, in compliance the IMDG Code.”
Head of cargo management at Maersk Line and chairman of the shipping line CINS network adds: “If people only read one book this year it should be this one.”
Tags: TT Club; CINS