TT Club calls governments to report findings to IMO on 2021 inspections, as well as to increase the volume of inspections carried out. This would inform the international maritime regulator and support industry players who are striving to ensure safety and reduce dangerous incidents.
Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of the Inspection of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs) issued by the IMO aim to help governments to implement a uniform and safe inspection programme. The IMO Circular (MSC.1/Circ.1649) seeks to broaden the inspections undertaken and align fully with safety guidance developed during the last decade.
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Specifically, governments are now requested to select from all cargo types, rather than simply declared dangerous goods, for inspection. Further the guidance takes account of the issuance of the CTU Code, revisions of container safety regulations and the need to minimise the movement of invasive pests. The Circular additionally notes the continuing low rate submission of inspection reports and encourages an increase in such inspections.
On that occasion, Peregrine Storrs-Fox is TT’s Risk Management Director, noted that:
With only five of the 179 governments affiliated with IMO submitting reports on inspections at the last Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) sub-committee meeting in September 2021, the industry urgently seeks more collaborative support from governments in combatting the potential circumstances and cargo packing practices that cause dangerous incidents
For this reason, he added that “it would be much appreciated if more national reports undertaken during 2021 can still be reported for consideration at the next CCC this September.”
However, TT calls for a viable sample of inspections in future based on the new guidelines. In this regard, it urges strongly that governments enter dialogue with industry to understand how the latter can work with enforcement agencies to improve safety.
EXPLORE MORE AT THE GUIDELINES FOR CONTAINER INSPECTIONS
