BIFAlink
News Desk
www.bifa.org
Welcoming new Members
** Stop press ** Chemicals suspected in Chittagong disaster As this issue of BIFAlink was being prepared, news was emerging of the tragedy unfurling in Chittagong following the outbreak of fire and subsequent explosions in a container storage depot near the city’s port. At least 40 people were reported dead and 100s more seriously injured. It is believed that the cause of the incident was undeclared chemicals, an issue that hampered the emergency response. This follows similar incidents at the port of Jebel Ali, Dubai in July 2021 and the port of Beirut in August 2020. However, the worst such incident occurred on 12 August 2015, when a series of explosions at the port of Tianjin, northern China, killed 173 people and injured 100s of others. The need for accurate information relating to all cargo cannot be clearer; cutting corners and unwittingly allowing undeclared or mis-declared dangerous goods to be loaded is not worth the risk. If you are involved in the storage of undelivered containers, ensure that regular inventories are taken and you are fully aware of their contents. 34th BIFA Awards are now open It is time to start planning your entries to the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2022. BIFA Member companies can
In May the BIFA secretariat launched a new initiative to welcome new Members to BIFA and ensure that, in addition to access to the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (STC), they are aware of other Member benefits and able to make the most of their membership. Spencer Stevenson, Member Services Manager and Executive Director, hosted the first New Member Welcome Meeting alongside Sharon Hammond, Events and Communications Executive. Together they covered the following topics: • The benefits of BIFA membership, • BIFA structure, including leadership and regional organisation,
• The BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, • Promotion of the industry, • Training and apprenticeships, • Keeping up to date via BIFAlink and social media • The BIFA Awards, • Associate members.
It is planned that New Member meetings will take place every other month, with all companies recently accepted into BIFA trading Membership being sent an invitation to attend. The next meeting is due to take place on Thursday 21 July; register at https:// bifa.org/events
• BIFA’s responsibilities, • Technical assistance and information,
Increased issues with lithium batteries in maritime transport
BIFA has a long working relationship with the TT Club and we have been following its concerns regarding the shipment of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries on containerships with considerable interest. Inevitably, due to the tighter regulations covering the shipment of lithium-ion batteries (both in bulk and packed in articles) in the air freight environment, more of these products are now being shipped by maritime transport. The main concern is the rising number of cases where batteries are being deliberately misdeclared – “computer parts” is a popular description. These misdeclared shipments are being linked to a variety of incidents. In one case, the US Coast Guard reported the fire produced temperatures “hot enough to create a hole through the metal container’s structure”. Lithium battery fires are very difficult to extinguish – the best way to fight a fire is to cool down individual cells. Dealing with such a
way to prevent the situation getting out of control. In a busy freight forwarding office, detecting misdeclared cargoes is difficult on a job-by-job basis. The main checks should be carried out when due diligence is undertaken. Clients should be asked about the nature of the goods being shipped and reminded that consignments containing batteries must be declared as dangerous goods and notified to the BIFA Member in writing prior to shipment. The aim is to facilitate the movement of legitimate cargoes but to discourage shipments of non- compliant and misdeclared batteries. The anonymity of cargo within a seafreight container makes it difficult to detect such problems, thus making it more important to adopt a multi-layered approach to detecting misdeclared items. This will reduce the risk of a serious fire on board ship, in a port or whilst on the road or train on the land leg of a journey. (See panel right)
fire on land is complex – tackling one in transit on a large containership with a relatively small crew is much more difficult, especially where the container stowage limits access. The problems are numerous; battery fires generate significant heat and have the potential for re-ignition days or weeks after the initial fire. If batteries are undeclared, the container in which they are packed may be stowed adjacent to non- compatible hazardous cargoes, increasing the risk of the fire spreading and creating a major incident. Early detection of fires on board ship, including the use of thermal imaging, is important and the best
enter a maximum of three categories, in addition to
nominating individuals to the Young Freight Forwarder and Apprentice of the Year Awards. Go to www.bifa.org/awards for category descriptions and entry forms.
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July 2022
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