TT Talk - Maintaining container safety
08/08/2016
Container operators need to ensure they have in place a system for monitoring and maintaining the state of the containers under their stewardship. Diverse stakeholders drive differing requirements.
Understanding for licenced customs brokers of the risks faced and mitigation steps to take.
TT Talk - Impact of food safety in USA
12/07/2016
US food rule will continue to drive up standards and requirements; beware the contractual negotiations.
New 'Guidelines for the Carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite in Containers' are intended to allow the carriage of calcium hypochlorite under controlled circumstances, to ensure that it is properly declared, packaged, packed and carried.
The explosion at Tianjin Port last August should be seen as a spectacular example of why those operating throughout the global supply chains should examine their work practices and risk policies more thoroughly.
TT Talk - VGM: latest IMO advice
26/05/2016
The IMO has issued a Circular to all Member States and the transport industry this week in order to assist the implementation of the VGM amendment to SOLAS, which comes into effect on 1 July. TT Club welcomes the move, noting that governments have also been urged to engage with the industry in their jurisdictions to assist with compliance and to share best practice with other national authorities.
TT Talk - Stripped down weight
10/05/2016
The impending mandatory enforcement of verified gross mass (VGM) for all packed containers as a pre-condition to loading on board a ship is - at last - concentrating minds and energy towards implementation. The concern must be that too little time has been left to preclude trade problems in the immediate aftermath of 1 July 2016.
TT Talk - Weight: health check
10/05/2016
When the requirement for verified gross mass (VGM) was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in November 2014, preparations should have started through the containerised supply chain to reach compliance. Now less than two months to enforcement, what final steps need to be in place?
Two recent groundings of mega container ships act possibly as gentle reminders that persistent shipping risks face stakeholders. Similarly, risks of cargo management for every size of container ship have not receded - specifically that of 'adjacency', the potential for the actions of one shipper, having mis-declared or incorrectly packed cargo in one container, to have an impact on the entire maritime adventure.
TT Talk - ICHCA Conference notes
04/04/2016
The ICHCA International Conference 2016 took place in Barcelona, Spain, using the theme 'Bigger Ships, Greater Challenges". The conference attracted over 200 delegates and a number of prominent speakers, including a keynote address from Mr Kitack Lim, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Many organisations in the supply chain industry need to meet growing expectations to provide access to a 24/7/365 service. This commercial reality usually necessitates shift work, leading to workforce operating during what could be considered unnatural hours. This can be accentuated in a 'global village' with expectations to operate across time zones.