Despite the existence of mandatory international and national regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials, there persists a concerning trend of these goods being either inaccurately declared or not declared at all, leading to a significant rise in ship fires.
Recognizing the need for enhanced safety measures, the World Shipping Council (WSC) is actively developing the Cargo Safety Program and announced that the National Cargo Bureau (NCB) has been chosen as the independent provider for the digital platform of this program.
NCB, a non-profit organization and an important body in delivering safety initiatives and services within the maritime sector, brings extensive expertise. Its software, Hazcheck, is renowned for its efficacy in detecting, inspecting, and validating dangerous goods, ensuring their secure and compliant transportation. The WSC Cargo Safety Program will build upon this foundation, evolving from Hazcheck Detect, a trusted cargo screening tool that currently processes over 10 million bookings monthly.
"WSC and NCB have a shared commitment to the safety of life and cargo at sea. With NCB’s considerable expertise and experience, the Cargo Safety Program is a substantial new tool for making workplaces safer for ship crews, transport workers, and communities, as well as enhancing operational efficiency for shippers,” explained John Butler, President and CEO of the WSC.
In addition, the system places great emphasis on standardization and a unified approach to cargo screening and inspection and incorporates a feedback mechanism for inspection outcomes, ensuring the consistency and comprehensiveness of safety procedures across the board.
"As an organization founded with the purpose of preventing maritime disasters through the
enhancement of safety, we are honoured to be selected to deliver this solution and are excited to witness the collaborative benefits of a global, standardized approach to cargo screening and inspections. This is truly a transformational step for the industry,” said Ian Lennard, NCB President and CEO.
The foundation of the Cargo Safety Program will be a digital platform comprising a Common Screening Tool, a Verified Shipper Database, and a Database of Approved Container Inspection Companies. NCB, operating as an independent third-party vendor, will provide and manage these components.
At the heart of the system lies its core functionality: screening booking details against an extensive keyword library and risk algorithm. Bookings deemed high-risk will undergo further investigation and potential inspection.
Also, the system will leverage insights gained from past experiences to continuously enhance the screening tool. The primary focus is on proactively identifying and rectifying concerning conditions before hazardous cargo containers enter the supply chain.
According to a statement, this common safety method will significantly reduce the risks associated with non-declared or improperly declared, labelled or packed dangerous cargo across the supply industry. At the same time, the system will streamline the transport of compliant dangerous cargo in line with national and international laws.
