The cost of safety failures, however small the frequency rate, is usually disproportionate; equally, the rewards for safe operations and practices generally accrue significant benefits. Effective near miss reporting is key.
Lawyers can become excited about who has the burden of proof and when it might pass or be discharged. Nevertheless, a convoluted interpretation can give rise to pragmatic judgements.
Incorporation of Standard Trading Conditions is an 'old chestnut', but remains critically important in supply chain operations. Don't let the 'big picture' deal blind you to such protective 'detail'.
Recent caselaw suggests that English courts will lean towards the selecting interpretations on limits of liability that favour a claimant. Unwelcome to the carrier community, so worth considering how best to describe goods on carriage documents.
ICHCA International has opened the 2nd TT Club Innovation in Safety Award and invites submissions from anyone involved in cargo logistics who can show a demonstrable improvement to safety.
There continue to be improvements in efficiency and simplification arising from the SOLAS VGM requirements. Aggregating some of these with initiatives in other aspects of the supply chain could deliver exponential advance in safety.
Implementation of Directive (EU) 2015/719 on 7 May 2017 emphasises the need for correct weight information in the freight supply chain and potentially clarifies apportionment of liability.
New international regulations implemented last July clearly defined what comprises 'gross mass' for transporting packed containers by sea and required one of two weighing processes to support documented communication between stakeholders.
IMO Secretary General and European Commission officials were present at the launch of a CTU Code Compliance Campaign in Brussels. During a seminar, communication of best practice in packing and securing cargo and compliance across all modes was urged.
