Faulty docs or packing at the heart of most cargo incidents


8


Almost a quarter of cargo incident cases are due to mis-declaration of the cargo and a further 37% to poor or incorrect packing, says CINS, the Cargo Incident Notification System - an initiative set up by a number of shipping lines and managed by the Container Owners Association (COA). Current CINS chairman, Reinhard


Schwede, who works in Hapag- Lloyd’s Cargo Services/Dangerous Cargo Department said: “We have identified that 24% of all incidents involve mis-declaration and this is probably the first time that this ‘iceberg’ risk has been quantified. With these findings, CINS will engage with enforcement agencies, competent authorities and the IMO to gain support for the relevant changes to legislation or other safe practice recommendations.” CINS is a database created by


some of the world’s leading liner operators - CMA CGM, Evergreen Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Line and MSC - in response to events that regularly disrupt operations and endanger lives, property or the environment. One of the key triggers was an incident on an OOCL vessel in which silicium tetrachloride gave off toxic chlorine gas, hospitalising 16 crew. Operators use CINS to capture


important information relating to cargo and container incidents, providing an early warning of causes for concern. This may include cargoes that display dangerous characteristics but are not yet recognised by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, as well as continuing or emerging unsafe practices in the unit load industry. Since the public launch of the


database in September 2011, the number of lines participating in CINS has more than doubled, assisting with populating the


database, which is hosted by the COA, and participants now account for some 58% of world container slot capacity. Dirk Vande Velde, director MSC


chemical transports, environmental and social business affairs, and CINS deputy chairman, said that the data had confirmed the industry’s fears over dangerous goods cargo – that a small number of shippers were failing to properly declare dangerous goods. There were 29 fires and explosions on ships operated by CINS member lines alone in 2012, which was unacceptable, said Dirk Vande Velde. “If it happened in aviation, all planes would be grounded,” he told FBJ. He also believes that it is


extremely fortunate that some of the incidents that have happened, including the MSC Flaminia fire in July 2012 – did not occur while the ship was in port surrounded by a large urban area. “That explosion was equivalent to 4,000 kilos of TNT and would have totally devastated the surrounding area.” The recent train wreck in Quebec that killed over 40 people on 6 July was a frightening example of what could happen if large amounts of combustible material caught fire in the middle of a populated area. CINS


has, though, been


developing inspection schemes and 14 instances of undeclared dangerous goods had been found on MSC vessels, he said. “Also, we have suspicions in some cases that there are shippers doing this systematically, with unapproved packaging and consignments that are not placarded or labelled.” But he warned that there would soon be no hiding place for companies that sought to deliberately flout the rules. It is possible that in future targeted inspections would be introduced, with companies known to regularly break the rules checked much more frequently than compliant shippers. He added that he would like to


see a system of licensed packers, as already is the case for airfreight. CINS would also encourage best practice


and develop training


schemes, and would work with other bodies including the Sustainable Ports and Shipping Network (SPSN).


Lithium batteries ‘caused UPS freighter blaze’


The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has released its final report on the crash which killed two UPS 747 freighter pilots near Dubai on 3 September 2010. While not pinpointing the


origin of the fateful blaze that brought the aircraſt down, it found that the ensuing fire was spread, if not actually started by lithium batteries and that smoke- detection equipment took too long to alert the crew. According to the GCAA, a


consignment of improperly declared lithium batteries were loaded in Hong Kong. The fire on the main cargo deck affected the aircraſt control systems and, crucially, the crew’s emergency oxygen supply, forcing the captain to leave his seat to try to find the emergency oxygen bottle, leaving


the first officer in sole charge. He, unable to see his instruments because of the thick smoke filling the cockpit or communicate properly with air traffic control, lost control of the plane as his own oxygen supply failed. GCAA urged the Federal


Aviation Authority to develop specific fire-worthiness standards for freighter and combi aircraſt as well as fire suppression systems and better heat and fire resistance standards for airfreight containers. Just before the publication of


the GCAA report, on 22 July, UPS announced that it had ordered 1,821 fire-resistant containers made from military body-armour material that could contain a 1,200 degrees F fire for over four hours.


New Safety Circle for the logistics industry


A new confidential Safety Circle has been launched by Labyrinth Logistics Consulting to allow logistics companies to talk openly and discuss concerns about safety in their industry. The group, which will initially


consist of up to 30 companies - manufacturers, retailers and logistics


operators, as well as those designing and


producing vehicles and


equipment - will meet quarterly, with an additional on-line forum available only to members Forum rules will ensure that details


of discussions cannot be traced back to any individual or company. www.labyrinthsafetycircle.co.uk/


Issue 6 2013


///NEWS


NEWS ROUNDUP AIRFREIGHT


Russian carrier Transaero has launched weekly Tupolev Tu204- 100C flights between Stansted - the UK’s third busiest cargo airport - and Moscow. The new service also gives connections across Transaero’s wide-ranging network.


The US Justice Department took the airline industry by surprise on 13 August when it filed a lawsuit blocking the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways. According to US press reports, both carriers had earlier said that they expected the deal would go through smoothly. However, the Justice Department said the merger – which would create the world’s biggest airline - would substantially reduce competition.


United Airlines will operate a summer seasonal 757 passenger service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Edinburgh, Scotland from 22 May to 5 October next year, subject to government approvals. Flights will operate five times weekly from May 22 to June 11, daily between June 12 and Sept. 1 and four times weekly between Sept. 2 and Oct. 5, 2014. United already operates between Newark and Edinburgh and Glasgow.


IAG Cargo, the freight business of British Airways and Iberia is increasing frequencies between Heathrow and Tel Aviv in Israel, Accra in Ghana and Entebbe in Uganda from the 2014 summer timetable. There will be a daily Boeing 777-200 on the Tel Aviv route, replacing an A321 aircraſt. Entebbe sees improved flight times and an increase in services from three to four flights a week and, from winter 2013, an additional three flights a week to Accra, bringing the total number of weekly services to 10. From summer 2014, a larger Boeing 747 aircraſt will replace one of the Boeing 767s currently on the route.


ROAD & RAIL


DB Schenker Logistics has introduced a new double-manned trailer service between Turkey and the UK in conjunction with local partner DB Schenker Arkas. The latter is one of the biggest integrated logistics service providers in Turkey employing around 400 staff in 11 locations across the country.


UK logistics company Knights of Old has launched a new express service to Malta in partnership with island-based Parnis England Trucking. It offers twice weekly departures, supported by a distribution network of over twenty branches in the UK and Ireland. Earlier, Knights launched a new network with Pekaes, Poland’s biggest transport and forwarding specialist.


DHL Freight has introduced a new Eurapid road service offering day- definite lead times and priority treatment for less-than-truckload shipments across Europe. Features include full end-to-end visibility and a charging structure based on simple rate cards for shipments up to 2.5 tonnes. The service is aimed especially at the technology and fashion sectors. DHL Eurapid is already available in 14 countries including the UK. Additional areas will be connected to the network in coming months.


Restoration of rail service to the port of Apapa in Lagos, Nigeria aſter a 16-year hiatus was marked by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and the despatch of 20 containers from APM Terminals’ facility on 23 August.


DB Schenker Rail UK has selected Roadways Container Logistics and its Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) as its Midland rail hub of choice. The terminal is served by two intermodal trains a day from Southampton and one from Felixstowe.


The Port of Felixstowe has added its 30th daily rail service, to Doncaster. The new route, operated by Freightliner, follows owners Hutchison Ports’ opening of a third rail terminal at the port in June.


International Freight Forwarders • FCL/LCL - EU + Worldwide Services • Warehousing


• Road/Sea/Air/Breakbulk/Projects • Paperfree Trading • AEO Certified • Customs Brokers & EU Customs Compliance Specialists


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