A key change implemented in Amendment 34-08 of the IMDG Code relates to shoreside training. This amendment entered transitional application on 1 January 2009 and will have the full force of law under the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention from 1 January 2010.
As of 15 October 2008, US Customs & Border Protection requires that all laden containers entering the US by sea must have seals which meet the ISO/PAS 17712 standard.
With the growth in the number of containers being shipped and moving in and out of the US ocean terminals, more independent (third party) truckers are involved on the terminals premises in receiving and delivering the containers. This larger volume of trade can increase the probability of an incident involving independent truckers.
