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In containerised transport it is easy to assume that everything that happens to the cargo between the point when it is packed to the point it is unpacked is within the responsibility of the carrier. The reality is that this will depend on the precise terms of the contract of carriage for any period when the international carriage regimes do not specifically apply.

Security at ports and terminals is vital to protect cargo, other assets and workforce. However, the typical size and layout of a port (especially container terminals) can make monitoring difficult, since the line of sight may be obscured by cargo, buildings and plant or equipment. Similarly, the physical distance sometimes required to travel across the facility, compounded by the potential disrupt...

Hosting special events at your premises can be an effective means - particularly for ports - to engage positively with your local communities. This can create greater levels of transparency and improve common perceptions about your activities, as well as generate new income streams - all while serving to demonstrate a commitment towards social elements of an ESG policy.

Join TT Club's Managing Director Loss Prevention, Mike Yarwood, and Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox, as they discuss key risk areas for the transport and logistics industry. In this edition Mike and Peregrine discuss the risks of transporting lithium batteries as well as supply chain security concerns.

Ports, terminals and similar facilities use a wide range of handling equipment assets to serve the global supply chain in the movement and storage of cargo. Given the nature of the operations, these assets regularly see significant wear and tear over their service life. Therefore, to ensure safe and efficient operations, management must be able to make informed decisions based on the condition of...

Safety of trucks on the high way is a paramount concern for the transport industry, impacting not only the lives of drivers but also all road users. It is imperative that industry stakeholders prioritise and uphold stringent safety measures. This article delves into one aspect of truck safety: unplanned uncoupling.

The biennial cycle of maritime dangerous goods regulations, the next Amendment of which enters mandatory application on 1 January 2024, provides a valuable opportunity to consider the trajectory of changes or improvements in safety for the freight supply chain.

Focus in maritime transport has been turned towards the safe transport of microplastic pellets following well-publicised incidents. While the debate rages as to how to mitigate the risks to the maritime ecosystem, those arising through the entire freight supply chain need to be recognised.

In the past six months, two important appellate court decisions in the United States (in the Seventh and Eleventh circuits) have come down in favour of the freight brokerage industry on the issue of whether negligence claims against freight brokers are pre-empted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A).

An interesting challenge to established English law relating to responsibility under CMR for excise duty where goods are lost or stolen. Strongly maintaining the existing English law position, particularly post Brexit and VOCID, bring welcome certainty to the logistics industry.

Recent years, not least consequent on Brexit, have seen greater opportunities for logistics operators to provide customs related services to their customers. While potentially new and lucrative revenue streams, these services do not come without risk as TT has highlighted previously. In what precise capacity an operator acts will affect the potential liability exposure. In this edition, we take a...

The global supply chain is fraught with potential risks, so disputes are perhaps inevitable. The exposure to financial consequences can be minimised, however, by maintaining a robust risk mitigation policy. Risk mitigation extends not only to the proactive steps taken to improve operational safety and security, but also to ensuring, from the outset, that adequate contractual protections are in pla...

Safety culture encompasses the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours regarding safety within an organisation. If reflects the collective commitment to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for all individuals involved. A strong safety culture goes beyond mere compliance with regulations and standards; it fosters a proactive and continuous effort to identify and mitigate ri...

Compliance with regulations and related requirements is a given for all businesses. Failure to comply will place your business in an extremely difficult position, should a serious incident occur. However, adherence with the law should be seen as the baseline in the context of developing a mature safety culture. Furthermore, achieving the minimum may not ultimately be good enough for your business.

Over the last 25 years, the global container transport industry has undergone significant economic and safety developments. As with so many aspects of life, many such developments are incremental and have faced various head-winds, such that highlights from this last quarter century may not necessarily be strong indicators of future trends.

For 25 years, this newsletter has communicated to the global transport industry information and guidance, highlighting a wide range of topical issues that the industry has faced. Rightly, safety has frequently been the focus of discussion. The industry will inevitably continue to face both existing and as yet unknown challenges.

TT has been seeking over decades to deliver on its inherent mission to be at the heart of the global transport and logistics industry, and to make the industry safer, more secure and more sustainable.

The English Court of Appeal confirms the Commercial Court decision clarifying the application of time-bars in relation to deliveries made after discharged from the ship. Further appeal has been denied, so this case bring welcome certainty, albeit clearly decided on specific contractual wording and factual situation.

Reaching a 300th edition is a significant milestone for any monthly publication, but much is still to be done, working together with the industry to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that TT Club supports, highlights upcoming challenges, identifies emerging trends and considers the yet unknown risks that the industry will face.

Security is key for container terminals and ports generally. The threat horizon is vast, incorporating cargo theft, illicit trades, alongside operational safety and the prevention of terrorist attacks. Inevitably, account is needed of both land and water interfaces.

Technological advances in digitalisation of process, telematics and smart containers provide opportunities to mitigate risk for the temperature controlled supply chain. However, much still relies on human intervention - and that is the aspect that TT's claims experience suggests continues to produce losses.

Workforce fatigue is a topic that has been considered in the context of the COVID pandemic and also more generally in past editions of TT Talk. It, however, remains an important factor in keeping people safe and equipment and property protected.

There are innumerable spaces found through the global supply chain that should be considered encloses or confined, some more obvious that others. Unfortunately, these spaces claim many lives each year when ill-prepared workers enter them. For this reason, we return to this topic.

As previously highlighted, risks associated with clandestine migration around the world include impact on the freight supply chain. Criminal organisations behind this illicit activity have long realised that legitimate logistics operations present very efficient means of moving people, often undetected across key borders.

There will be a range of people entering a port or terminal facility on a sporadic or temporary basis. Managing the safety of all third-party personnel who might not be familiar with your facility should be a high priority and can present additional challenges.