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Lithium ion battery incident – record fine announced in the US


New calls for more secure parking


Hauliers are calling for more secure parking areas across the EMEA region after a report from the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) found that 85.1% of all cargo theft reported to it in November occurred at unsecured locations. The report coincides with claims


in the UK that London’s police may not pursue “lower-level, higher- volume” crimes, including vandalism, vehicle crime and fuel theft. Citing news reports, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said plans from the Metropolitan Police Force not to investigate certain crimes was a “worrying development”. The RHA claimed a lack of government action on


providing secure lorry parks would only compound the issue. November figures from TAPA


show the UK and Germany had the highest incident rates, accounting for some 89.1% of crimes, with 93.9% of UK incidents occurring at unsecured parking locations. More than €1.5 million worth of goods were stolen in the UK from parked vehicles, with the largest single theft occurring on 6 November in Barking when thieves took some €337,268 worth of clothing. The association said that to have


“any hope” of reducing the level of cargo losses, governments across the EMEA region would need to introduce secure parking. Overall figures indicated a 12.1% year-on-


year drop in incidents, but the report noted figures from the Netherlands had not been collated and would “almost certainly” indicate an upward trend. CLECAT likewise calls for greater


provision of secure parking in Europe, which is essential for the protection of goods and drivers. While the EU has previously made extensive funding available, and industry constantly stresses the need for greater provision, a concerted approach including providers, users and authorities is required in order to improve the situation.


From CLECAT Newsletter January 2018


The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing its largest civil penalty recorded against a battery manufacturer for alleged Hazardous Materials Regulations (HazMat) violations in 2016. The Florida-based company is facing a penalty of $1.1 million for allegedly offering four shipments, each containing a 24- volt lithium ion battery, for transportation by air. It is understood that one of the


batteries caught fire whilst being transported on a truck, after it had already been transported on an aircraft, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle. The FAA alleges the lithium


batteries did not meet testing standards contained in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria of the US Hazardous Material Regulations, were not equipped with a means of preventing dangerous reverse current flow, and were not in proper condition for shipment. It is also alleged that the


company had not provided its employees with the required hazardous materials training, despite concerns that the FAA had raised about its training programme prior to this incident.


By sea – Hague Visby rules (2 SDR): £2.08 per kg £692.71per package


By road – CMR (8.33 SDR): £8.66 per kg


By air –Montreal Convention (19 SDR): £19.74 per kg


February 2018


By air –Warsaw Convention (17 SDR): £17.66 per kg


BIFA STC: (2 SDR): £2.08 per kg


(The SDR rate on 19 January 2018 according to the IMF website, was 1.03906)


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