The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) established over two decades ago that member governments should routinely inspect freight containers and their cargoes, with annual findings submitted for global reporting to gauge compliance and identify safety improvements. IMO advised member governments to focus their container inspections on a representative sample of cargo, particularly targeting shipments with a history of safety issues or those containing dangerous goods. The goal was to identify and address any undeclared or misdeclared hazardous materials, ensuring safety and compliance across international shipping.

However, an analysis by the Cargo Integrity Group shows that fewer than 5% of the 167 national administrations involved consistently submit these inspection results publicly.

Cargo Integrity Group is a partnership of industry associations seeking to raise awareness and greater uptake of the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (2014) –  often referred to as CTU Code. The associations include ICHCA, Bureau International des Containers (BIC), Container Owners Association (COA), International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), Global Shippers’ Forum, TT Club and World Shipping Council (WSC).

“Whilst applauding the diligence of those governments making regular submissions, the Cargo Integrity Group is concerned at the overall low numbers of reports as this means that insufficient data is available for IMO or industry to draw reliable conclusions, fundamentally undermining efforts to improve the safety and sustainability of shipments by sea,” CIG said, adding that while some states may inspect containerised goods, they often fail to submit their findings to the IMO, undermining the shared value of these inspections.

CIG partners believe that common and consistent reporting of inspection findings is essential to help target communication and training programmes aimed at improving awareness of the requirements and recommended safe practices for the transport of goods in containers. These include the SOLAS Convention, the CSC Convention, the IMDG Code, and the CTU Code.

“The dangers posed by poorly packed, mis-handled or mis-declared containerised shipments has been demonstrated again recently in a series of fires and explosions aboard container ships. Whilst the precise circumstances of these incidents remain under investigation, the Cargo Integrity Group is concerned that measures already in place to help identify possible weaknesses are not being fully implemented and that opportunities for improving compliance standards are being missed.”

CIG is concerned that the IMO might stop collating and publishing container inspection reports in an accessible format. Specifically, the IMO is set to decide on the matter later this week.

“The Cargo Integrity Group calls on national administrations to fully implement their agreed actions on submitting container inspection findings to IMO to help improve standards in the safe and compliant transport of goods by sea and to follow-up on material deficiencies that may be discovered,” CIG added.

The group called on the IMO to maintain the publication of these reports in a user-friendly format to identify areas needing regulatory improvements.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) established over two decades ago that member governments should routinely inspect freight containers and their cargoes, with annual findings submitted for global reporting to gauge compliance and identify safety improvements. IMO advised member governments to focus their container inspections on a representative sample of cargo, particularly targeting shipments with a history of safety issues or those containing dangerous goods. The goal was to identify and address any undeclared or misdeclared hazardous materials, ensuring safety and compliance across international shipping.

However, an analysis by the Cargo Integrity Group shows that fewer than 5% of the 167 national administrations involved consistently submit these inspection results publicly.

Cargo Integrity Group is a partnership of industry associations seeking to raise awareness and greater uptake of the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (2014) –  often referred to as CTU Code. The associations include ICHCA, Bureau International des Containers (BIC), Container Owners Association (COA), International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), Global Shippers’ Forum, TT Club and World Shipping Council (WSC).

“Whilst applauding the diligence of those governments making regular submissions, the Cargo Integrity Group is concerned at the overall low numbers of reports as this means that insufficient data is available for IMO or industry to draw reliable conclusions, fundamentally undermining efforts to improve the safety and sustainability of shipments by sea,” CIG said, adding that while some states may inspect containerised goods, they often fail to submit their findings to the IMO, undermining the shared value of these inspections.

CIG partners believe that common and consistent reporting of inspection findings is essential to help target communication and training programmes aimed at improving awareness of the requirements and recommended safe practices for the transport of goods in containers. These include the SOLAS Convention, the CSC Convention, the IMDG Code, and the CTU Code.

“The dangers posed by poorly packed, mis-handled or mis-declared containerised shipments has been demonstrated again recently in a series of fires and explosions aboard container ships. Whilst the precise circumstances of these incidents remain under investigation, the Cargo Integrity Group is concerned that measures already in place to help identify possible weaknesses are not being fully implemented and that opportunities for improving compliance standards are being missed.”

CIG is concerned that the IMO might stop collating and publishing container inspection reports in an accessible format. Specifically, the IMO is set to decide on the matter later this week.

“The Cargo Integrity Group calls on national administrations to fully implement their agreed actions on submitting container inspection findings to IMO to help improve standards in the safe and compliant transport of goods by sea and to follow-up on material deficiencies that may be discovered,” CIG added.

The group called on the IMO to maintain the publication of these reports in a user-friendly format to identify areas needing regulatory improvements.