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Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code1 and the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code2). The mandatory enforcement of the latest version of the


IMDG Code began on 1 January this year; the significant amendment was 39-18. As a consequence, TT Club has again collaborated to update the publication ‘Book it right and pack it tight’3. This guide provides key insights for all actors in the freight supply chain responsible for preparing unitised consignments for carriage by sea. The guide is intended to provide an overview of the key practical duties under the IMDG Code for each stakeholder, while not seeking to meet the mandatory training requirements. The CTU Code stands as non-mandatory international law.


Structured so that it may be incorporated into national legislation, the entire freight industry should recognise that many jurisdictions will rely on this detailed guidance in any litigation as demonstrating good industry practice. TT Club stresses that all direct stakeholders need to become familiar with the contents of, and develop ways to implement and encourage compliance with, the CTU Code.


Training requirements The need for an increased level of training of those employed by shippers, consolidators, warehouses and depots to pack containers and other transport units is repeatedly demonstrated by the consequences of inappropriate load distribution and badly secured cargo within CTUs, including bodily injury. As a result, TT Club commissioned Exis Technologies to develop e-learning training courses for the transport industry – CTU pack e-learning™4


. TT Club, working with partners, will continue to put pressure


on UN agencies, governments and the full range of direct and indirect stakeholders involved in the intermodal supply chain, recommending changes to improve safety, and identify practices and behaviours that can undermine certainty of outcome for trade in general and present increased risk for people, ships and the environment. It is clear that the effectiveness of TT Club’s call for cargo


integrity must take a broad approach, not relying on the power of regulation or the vigilance and discipline of carriers or port operators, but carrying the safety message far and wide, including engaging with indirect stakeholders such as those involved in fiscal, health, security and anti-trust regulation, and embracing technical innovations that can assist in monitoring and condition reporting. Those involved in inspections, surveys and advice to the


packaging, packing, segregation and securing. Such things compromise safety in a variety of ways, but most critically when the goods should rightly be described as dangerous in a regulated sense. There are two internationally recognised codes, regulated


by the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) that guide, instruct and govern the safe transport of cargoes in containers and other CTUs; the mandatory International


April 2020


There are weekly reports of unitised fires


packing industry globally are also key to engaging on risk perceptions and management with all involved in the movement of cargo. Naming such a range of influences in the safety, security and environmental performance of the supply chain is helpful in recognising the challenge to achieve the significant culture change that is required, while prioritising efforts to engender such change.


¹www.imo.org/en/Publications/IMDGCode/Pages/Default.aspx ² www.unece.org/trans/wp24/guidelinespackingctus/intro.html ³ www.ttclub.com/loss-prevention/publications/risk- management-handbook


⁴ https://ctupack.existec.com/ 11


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