Along with other container lines participate in the Cargo Incident Notification System Network
Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co join forces to reduce the number of accidents caused by hazardous cargoes, poorly stowed containers or inaccurate weight declarations.
The purpose is to collect and share all information related to potentially dangerous containerised freight on an industry-wide basis. That would enable container lines to receive a rapid alert in the case of worrying incident, and for carriers to have a clearer idea of how widespread certain bad practices or possibly risky situations are across the industry.
These two large container lines along with CMA CGM, Evergreen, and Hapag-Lloyd, are participating in the Cargo Incident Notification System Network. The TT Club and the International Group of P&I Clubs, are also involved in the project,with the Container Owners Association acting as a neutral host for the database.All information about cargo that either has or could have caused an accident will be fed into Cinsnet so that statistics can be
produced and industry trends identified.
Shipowners will have the hard evidence to back up their claims in case any clear patterns emerge indicating that further action ought to be taken either at industry or regulatory level .The statistics will give a good idea about the real picture and how shipowners should act in order to change the culture, make container shipping safer, and ensure cargo arrives at its destination in one piece.
Investigators examining the MSC Napoli containership – grounded off the English coast in 2007 – found that, of the 660 containers on deck, the weight of 137 differed from the declared figure bymore than three tonnes. That disaster was unique in giving inspectors the chance to compare declared and actual weights.
Many accidents over the past few years have been linked with wrong declared containerweights. International Maritime Organization is now considering mandatory weighing requirements after an industry effort to explain to shippers the importance of providing accurate information failed to make much impact. The original proposal to restrict the data exchange to dangerous cargoes was considered too narrow and prescriptive,with members of the pilot project not wanting to exclude any information that would help to improve safety standards.
Information entered into the database will be stripped of all shipper identification details in order to avoid any antitrust issues. Cinsnet is being trialled at a time when several other efforts are under way to improve cargo safety.
As well as IMO moves on container weighing, the International Labour Organization is updating guidelines on the packing of containers,while the
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code is being amended to ensure those handling dangerous goods are better trained.
