Australian Guide to Help Combat Product Loss in Container Shipping and Improve International Supply Chain Safety
A guide designed to help overseas suppliers safely pack containers has been released, with figures showing around 50 per cent of incidents while shipping freight in containers is caused by poor or incorrect packing.
Logistics specialists CoRsafe – part of Australia’s leading transport and logistics specialist insurance provider NTI, have partnered with Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) to create the CoRsafe Safe Container Loading and Transport Guide. It’s for Australian companies to distribute to their overseas partners, to provide an understanding of the standards they must meet when loading containers bound for Australia.
Executive General Manager – Strategy & Supply Chain, Chris Hogarty, said it is a resource designed to help protect Australian companies and improve safety for the entire industry.
“Improperly loaded containers can cause financial loss, reputational loss, injury, and in some cases, death. It’s important that everyone in the chain know their individual part in keeping everyone safe,” Mr Hogarty said.
“Our Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws provide that an Australian importer could be held accountable if it causes or encourages their overseas partners to incorrectly pack containers which breaches the laws – the maximum penalties can be as much as $3.9 million for corporations, and $390,000 or five years jail or both for individuals.
“This resource was created to help educate supply chain partners and meet the need for a guide with short, concise explanations, free of legal jargon that could easily be understood by frontline staff. Given our organisation’s focus on transport, it is also designed to reduce roll-overs, to eliminate loss and injury when containers are loaded onto vehicles after arriving in Australia.”
The guide covers important topics, such as: an overview of CoR laws in Australia and New Zealand; load preparation and process; load restraints; dimensions and weight; receipt and unpacking; transport of shipping containers; pests and water damage.
“We’ve also included a Container Packing Checklist produced by the Cargo Integrity Group as a go-to reference.”
CTAA Director, Neil Chambers said poorly loaded and unrestrained loads can present major safety concerns.
“Heavy vehicle accident data compiled by NTI shows that container-laden heavy vehicles are 36% more likely to be involved in a truck rollover compared to vehicles carrying general freight.
“A common factor in these incidents is vehicle instability caused by unbalanced or inadequately restrained loads inside the shipping container.
“CTAA is pleased to be partnering with CoRsafe to continue to raise these vital safety and commercial concerns with all parties in the container transport logistics chain.”
The full-length guide is made available to subscribers via the CoRsafe website. Those attending the upcoming Safe Container Loading & Transport Practices Seminar Series delivered across Australia throughout October and November will gain first access to both the short and simplified Chinese versions. Dates and links to register for the seminars held across capital cities and regional centres can be found here.
Media Enquiries: Megan Burton | Adoni Media | megan@adonimedia.com.au | 0499 358 839
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