Container crime


Current estimates put the annual cost of cargo crime worldwide at between US$30-50 billion, so how safe is container cargo whilst in transit?


The favourite locations for this type of crime are at ports, terminals or during road or rail transport.


Whilst onboard a vessel container cargo poses less of a risk and yet all too often the vessel operators find that they are the focal point of a claim. The reason for this is due to the fact that the operator:


● Constantly accepts a container onboard without actually checking the seal.


● The contractual terms of their bill of lading provides coverage from door-to-door.


● Their assets are often more easily accessible than that of other parties.


Question


“What control does the issuer of a bill of lading have as to the safety of a laden container whilst in transit and storage?” or “How reliable are their agents in complying with the release terms of a container’s cargo?”


Whatever type of container is used, its safety relies on its own security safeguards and those in place throughout its journey.


The introduction of containers was a technological advancement in the safe movement of cargo that has had a major impact on the reduction of cargo pilferage. However, this type of transport has become the notable asset to the organised criminal, primarily due to the cargo involved, which offers substantial profits with minimal chance of detection.


IMDG Code procedures are comprehensive, but frequently mis-understood causing dangerous goods incidents that regularly put ships and lives at risk. These guidebooks assist those preparing dangerous goods consignments to understand and implement the requirements of the IMDG Code by identifying and clarifying their key duties and requirements.


Visit the dangerous goods section of the UK Club website www.ukpandi.com for more details.


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Cargo in transit has and always will be the subject of crime. The distance involved in this type of movement, combined with the various handling procedures in place during its journey, presents a major obstacle. Without an investigation it is extremely difficult to identify where a loss occurred and who carried it out. This is obviously very important when a bill of lading provides a door-to-door service.


If a container is correctly stuffed and its doors secured, there are only three ways that an unlawful entry can be gained:


● The removal of a section of the container’s body.


● Interference to the seal or seals on the outer container door.


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