ILO to join ICHCA seminar

News 12 Oct 2013 by WCN Editorial

Frank Leys, ports specialist at the International Labour Organisation, will speak at ICHCA International’s cargo unit packaging seminar

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The seminar, Understanding the New IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Pratice for Packing Cargo Transport Units , takes place in London on 22 October. Following the IMO’s recent decision to adopt new rules for mandatory container weight verification, cargo transport unit packing is the next major item on the agenda, with implications for many parties along the cargo handling chain. Frank Leys is a former Secretary of the Dockers’ Section of the International Transport Workers Federation.

Developed jointly by the IMO, ILO and UN-ECE, the new Code of Practice is described by ICHCA "as far more comprehensive than the original 1997 packing guidelines from the three influential organisations.

"Applicable to all types of cargo moving in containers, trailers, swap bodies and railcars, the Code will provide parties along the supply chain with information about their responsibilities, including details of how to pack and secure packages and cargo items. It also places a responsibility on the shipper to declare correctly the composition of the cargo, as well as the gross mass of the packed CTU."

And ICHCA continues: "As highlighted recently by insurance company TT Club and the Cargo Incident Notification Service (CINS), poor CTU loading is responsible for an alarmingly high percentage of incidents along the transport chain, leading to damage, loss, injuries and fatalities.

"According to the TT Club, which is sponsoring and speaking at the seminar, poor packing and securing of cargoes should now be even more of a concern for members of the supply chain than inaccurate container weighing."

More information from helen.coffey@ichca.com