The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) has presented the BIC Award to the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) in recognition of the progress its made in sharing information and improving safety aboard vessels and throughout the supply chain.
The BIC Award was given to Ken Rohlmann of Hapag Lloyd, CINS Vice Chairman, and Jean-Christophe Triat of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), two of the founding members of CINS, by Douglas Owen, BIC Secretary General, and Giordano Bruno Guerrini, Chairman of the Board for the BIC.
Presented annually during the meeting of the sub-committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, the award honours an individual or organization for notable contributions to safety, security, standardization, or sustainability in containerized transportation.
Established in 2011 by five of the world’s biggest container lines, CMA-CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Line and MSC, CINS highlights the risks posed by certain cargoes and packing failures.
Collecting this data within the CINS online database results in the identification of trends and incidents needing immediate action.
The relevant authorities are then able to discuss these concerns to formulate proper recommendations or advice.
This can include suggesting amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code, or offering advice on training around the correct packing and securing of cargo.
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The CINS group of international experts act independently from any commercial interests to enhance the safety of people both onboard vessels and within the entire transport chain.
By collating information around all incidents resulting in injury or loss of life, loss or damage of assets, or environmental concerns, CINS also supports the industry by ensuring that shipping lines have facts to rely upon in case of regulatory intervention.
There are now 14 shipping line members of CINS.
This equates into two-thirds of the world’s containerized capacity being better managed through information within the database.
Uffe Ernst-Frederiksen, Chairman of CINS from Maersk Line, said: “The key driver for CINS remains ensuring safety of seafarers and all involved in the maritime supply chain across the globe, as well as protecting the environment and assets.
“In today’s cargo booking environment it remains key to maintain a level of vigilance where certain cargoes with potential self-reactive properties are involved.
“CINS’ strategic efforts include producing guidelines, such as for the transport of Calcium Hypochlorite, steel coils and for the use of non-operating reefers.
“Currently, CINS expert work groups are developing best practice guidelines on further specific cargoes in containers, including the carriage of charcoal, lithium batteries, metal scrap, hides and skins, cocoa butter and radioactive cargo.
“This BIC Award is greatly appreciated by the CINS team and it will certainly act as an incentive to continue the committed work by CINS member companies.”