The Maritime Research Institute of the Netherlands (MARIN), has released a new, informative video on TopTier, the joint industry project on container loss. This project is an effort of forty participants in the maritime industry in order to drastically reduce an important issue in container transport.
As MARIN states, the project will identify and recommend improvements for the coming decade that are supported by both shipping industry and authorities responsible for overall safety. As such, the project contributes to a safe and level playing field.
The TopTier JIP is structured in five tasks:
- The first task will identify the anno 2020 most relevant aspects in cargo stowage and securing on containerships by means of review of current practice through interviews and questionnaires with e.g. shipping lines, ship crews, terminal workers, surveyors and P&I.
- The second task will focus on how to deal with current practice cargo securing design values and probabilities from the regulators point of view.
- In the third task, the fidelity of cargo securing design practice is improved by including presently unaccounted effects.
The fourth task aims to increase awareness and proactive abilities of ship crews and stow planning departments in their role to prevent incidents by not exceeding (presently mostly invisible) maximum safe operation limits.
As mentioned in the video, the project scoop includes:
- Reliability of planning and loading data from Shoreside, ensuring the validity of safe working load criteria for lashing gear and containers.
- Realistic design load envelopes at sea
- How vessels can be operated safely inside these envelopes, while consciously avoiding off design conditions
The outcome of the project will be brought to the attention of relevant authorities as International Marine Organization (IMO), International Labor Organization (ILO) in order to aim for top down implementation for a continued level and safe playing field both at sea and on shore.
EXPLORE MORE ABOUT TOPTIER HERE
