TT Live

A changing climate is creating new challenges for ports and supply chain operations. For many years, heat stress has been regarded as a risk primarily associated with tropical, desert, or traditionally hot regions of the world. Today, that assumption is becoming increasingly outdated. 

Vehicle deck operations are among the most familiar activities in the Ro-Ro and ferry environment. Trailers are marshalled, reversed, parked, trestled, lashed and released countless times each day across ports and terminals around the world. Precisely because these tasks are so familiar, risk tolerance can increase through over-familiarisation, where repeated exposure to a hazard without a negative outcome reduces the perception the associated risk The recent UK P&I Club “Lessons Learnt” animation, developed as part of the collaborative work between TT Club and UK P&I Club, provides a powerful reminder that routine operations can rapidly become high-consequence events when visibility, communication, supervision and segregation fail. 

Tank containers sit at the very heart of some of the most safety critical activities across the global supply chain. From the carriage of hazardous cargoes to operating under demanding conditions and tight schedules, the integrity of these assets underpins not only commercial performance but also the protection of people, cargo and the environment. 

Josh Finch speaks to Matt Jolley and Nick Dale about Stop the Traffik, an NGO which aims to put an end to human trafficking.

As businesses continue to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, climate change and evolving supply chain challenges, another significant risk is emerging: the growing likelihood of a “super” El Niño event.

When ships face emergencies, places of refuge can be critical. This TT Talk examines the CMA CGM Verlaine case, exploring liability, indemnities and risk management considerations for ports.

Discover key insights from Safety Village 2026, where industry leaders explored collaboration, safety innovation, risk management and resilience, highlighting how collective action can help create safer supply chains.

Transport and logistics operators must communicate clearly during crises to maintain trust and manage risk. Effective, timely, and consistent updates reassure customers, while poor or inconsistent messaging increases uncertainty.

Ports must treat requests for refuge as complex, risk-based decisions rather than simple acceptance or refusal. Effective responses require planning for long durations, managing cargo-related hazards, ensuring space and coordination, and maintaining preparedness through structured frameworks and stakeholder collaboration.

TT Club's 2025 claims data identifies copper as the single most commonly stolen cargo. The theft of copper has shifted over the past decade from an opportunistic crime to a persistent supply chain threat, driven by value, organised criminal involvement, and vulnerabilities in transport and storage controls.

Chair of the British Association of Dangerous Goods Professionals (BADGP) - and Managing Director of LRT, Dangerous Goods Consultancy and Training, Les Richings talks to Josh Finch.

While General Average allows shared loss in maritime incidents, recent cases (notably The Happy Aras) show claims can fail where shipowners are at fault—particularly through unseaworthiness, poor passage planning, or incompetent crew. In essence, shipowners must prove due diligence, while forwarders are rarely directly liable but should notify insurers if involved.

China's revised Maritime Code is not a minor amendment. It is the first comprehensive overhaul since the Code entered into force in the early 1990s, and it reshapes several rules that freight forwarders deal with every day. Listen to find out more.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be slightly below average, but still carries significant risk, as even a single storm can cause severe disruption and loss. Thus, ports, terminals and logistics operators must maintain rigorous preparedness, operational discipline, and insurance cover to ensure resilience against increasingly unpredictable extreme weather.

Now in its tenth year, the TT Club Innovation in Safety Award highlights how practical innovation across the cargo‑handling supply chain is improving safety through a combination of technology, frontline insight, and leadership commitment. The 2026 winners and highly commended entries demonstrate that meaningful progress comes from sharing ideas, challenging convention, and turning operational experience into solutions that prevent harm and strengthen industry resilience.

Digital site induction has become a critical safety and efficiency tool for ports and terminals, shaping behaviour, communicating risk controls, and ensuring individuals are prepared before entering complex operational environments. As demonstrated by PD Ports' adoption of a digital induction platform, modern systems reduce congestion, improve compliance and safety understanding, support sustainability goals, and deliver measurable operational benefits.

Load boards are now central to road freight brokerage, offering speed, visibility, and flexible access to capacity, but their openness has also increased exposure to fraud, cargo theft, and operational risk. Careful assessment of when they are used, strict control over shared information, and clear governance and training are essential to balance efficiency with security.

Josh Finch and Alison Wixley, Senior Claims Executive at TT Club discuss the importance of standard trading terms and conditions in the logistics industry, focusing on their incorporation into contracts and the implications of limitations of liability. They touch on: Role of standard termsCommon incorporation issueCase example of ambiguityLegal status of email contracts Updating termsLimitation of liability rationaleEducation and communicationExceptions to limitations

New legal developments from updated industry STCs, to the freshly adopted UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, bring opportunity.

Cases like Overseas Medical Supplies v Orient Transport remind us that when forwarders take on extra roles, such as arranging insurance, additional due diligence and care is required to avoid unexpected losses.

Standard terms and conditions must be properly agreed before a contract is struck, or else operators risk being cast adrift with uninsured liabilities when cargo is lost or damaged.

In our latest episode of TT Live, Josh Finch sat down with Jen Maddison, Health, Safety and Culture Lead at Port Skills and Safety (PSS). It was packed with golden nuggets on container handling safety and the newly revised SIP #3 guidance.Ports are complex: vast, ever changing, and brimming with hazards, making this update a timely one.As ship sizes grow and operations and technologies advance, keeping crews, stevedores, and visiting drivers safe becomes both more challenging and more essential.

Hot works such as welding, cutting and grinding continue to cause serious fires in ports, terminals and warehouses. This TT Talk article offers practical guidance on reducing potentially catastrophic risks.

The world's supply chains are facing a growing threat of disruption from flooding. Climate change, together with instances of inadequate drainage or insufficient maintenance in some locations, means that ports, terminals and warehouses — many of which are situated in low‑lying areas — are increasingly exposed to extreme rainfall, flash floods, storm surges and “weather bombs. This article offers practical advice and solutions to reduce risks posed by extreme flooding.

Can artificial intelligence (AI), specifically machine-learning models, speed up the process and ensure greater accuracy?

A special episode today as host Josh Finch is joined by the rest of the loss prevention team: Mike Yarwood, Managing Director of Loss Prevention and Risk Assessment Managers Neil Dalus and Harry Palmer.The four discuss: the success of member to member collaboration; the Risk Maturity tool launch; common risks seen globally; the role of AI and technology; industry engagement and looking ahead for another action-packed 2026 making the global logistics industry safer, more secure and more sustainable.

In this episode of TT Live, Josh Finch speaks with Abdul Fahl, TMS Director for the Gulf region, about the growing challenge of abandoned cargo in the global supply chain. Together, they break down why cargo is abandoned, the financial and safety risks it creates, and the real‑world consequences faced by logistics operators. Abdul shares insights from the Middle East—one of the world's busiest hubs—highlighting common causes such as commercial disputes, regulatory changes, insolvency, and misdeclared or dangerous goods. They also explore practical steps freight forwarders can take to protect themselves, from strong contracts and due diligence to early intervention and legal guidance. A must‑listen for anyone working in transport, logistics, or supply chain risk management.

Ports and shipping lines need to explore every option to decarbonise their operations to reduce emissions and meet climate targets. One solution gaining traction in the ports sector is onshore power supply (OPS), also known as shore-side electricity or ‘cold ironing' - TT Club investigates.

This year, 2026 is the 70th anniversary of the invention of the shipping container. Today, shipping containers handle a significant percentage of world trade, helping to move around USD14 trillion worth of goods each year. But the container is no longer a box, but a platform for trade, innovation, sustainability and hope, which connects people, places and possibilities throughout the world. This month, TT Club looks at the considerable impact the humble container has had on the world - with some surprising adaptations.

TT Club's latest claims data reveals that around 60% of such fires start in the wheel and brake area. In this article, TT Club looks at the cause of fires from overheating breaks to bearings and debris. Plus the mitigations that can be taken to reduce the risk and best practice should a fire occur.

Proper packing is critical in preventing cargo from slipping or tipping during transit as forces vary across road, rail, and maritime environments. Poor packing can lead to severe incidents, including cargo damage and ship instability, especially with modern challenges like heavier loads, larger ships, and extreme weather.In this episode, Josh speaks with Bill Brassington, an independent safety and security consultant with 20 years in the container industry and a key contributor to the CTU Code -a global code of practice for packing cargo transport units or CTUs. Bill explains the evolution of the Code from early guidelines into a formal code in 2014, giving it greater legal standing and enabling governments to adopt regulations.

Ports face costly risks from abandoned or uninsured ships. If a ship sinks and the owner or insurance cannot cover costs, ports must manage the wreck to prevent pollution, clear channels, and ensure business continuity. Ports should review procedures for arriving ships and their insurance.

Warehouses storing bulk cargo – such as grain, coal, fertilizer, biomass and powders – face a unique combination of fire risks.Robust strategies for risk mitigation and operational resilience are essential.  

The IMDG Code (42-24) becomes mandatory on 1 January 2026. TT Club has updated resources and released a series of TT Briefs on hazardous cargoes, emphasising compliance to prevent human, environmental, and financial losses.

Josh Finch chats to Harry Palmer, Risk Assessment Manager and part of TT Club's Loss Prevention team, about his career, from designing and overseeing the construction of ports all over the globe - and the trials and tribulations - to his current role disseminating years of learned knowledge to our Members to keep their operations as safe and efficient as possible.

As trade regimes evolve, small-to-medium enterprises – the lifeblood of international trade – are struggling to absorb the financial shocks. For freight forwarders, the fallout is potentially ruinous.

Our new quarterly bulletin shares insights and practical guidance on all aspects of port authority risk. It draws on TT Club's extensive claims experience and industry data to provide a clear view of the risks confronting port authorities worldwide. 

In the intricate world of global supply chains, contractual disputes are inevitable, and financial consequences can be severe. For ports and terminals, exposure to such risks can be significantly reduced by using and maintaining a robust set of standard trading conditions (STCs).   

TT Club's mission is to make the transport and logistics industry safer, more secure and more sustainable. A key part of achieving this mission is supporting innovation and encouraging young talent and celebrating those that are making a difference. That's why for the last 25 years, TT Club has sponsored a collaboration with FIATA - the International Federation of Freight Forwarders - which is the Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year Award. Each year, the regional winners gather at the FIATA World Congress to announce the Global Winner. Enter Laura Egerer. Her 6,000 dissertation (which was judged by an international panel of experts) impressed for its focus on what goes wrong. From a challenging shipment of a RTO (you'll have to listen to find out what that is...) during the Baltimore bridge collapse, and an incoming shipment of lithium-battery-powered robots while Houthi rebels were attacking cargo vessels around the Red Sea.A fascinating discussion tracing the challenges of navigating an increasingly complex logistics landscape.

Seven countries that are members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) submitted data on 77,688 container inspections in 2024 in line with MSC.1/ Circ.1649. The intent of this IMO Circular is to encourage governments to identify misdeclarations and poor packing practices to “justify and effect safety improvements without an actual incident happening”. Since adoption of this iteration of guidance on inspections from IMO, reports have increased by more than 50% from approximately 51,000 in 2022 to 77,700 in 2024. Less positively, the number of IMO member states reporting has not increased. 

Ports, terminals, and logistical transport networks are increasingly exposed to climate-related hazards, with floods, storms, heatwaves and rising sea levels posting a growing threat to operational continuity and global trade.  In September 2025, TT Club published a white paper called Climate-ready Supply Chain. It provides guidance for ports, waterways and logistics operations on how to adapt and build resilience, ensuring business continuity and supporting insurance compliance. 

Power outages are no longer rare, isolated incidents in the transport and logistics sector. With the increasing complexity of ageing energy grids and growing reliance on electrical and digital systems, blackouts are becoming both more frequent and disruptive – with potentially severe commercial, safety and insurance implications. Ports and terminals should take steps now to make their operations more resilient to power failures, which should include the possibility of planning and rehearsing a safe shutdown.  

The British government has recognised the urgent need to clamp down on cargo thefts from trucks. A new report to the Department of Transport has confirmed the importance of providing properly safe truck stop for drivers of the nation's 437,000 heavy goods vehicles, who move 89% of all national freight by road. A new Freight Crime Bill, which aims to introduce a separate crime classification code for freight crime as well as much needed funding for the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Services' (NaVCIS) Freight division, is now working its way through Parliament. 

NAABSA (not always afloat but safely aground) berths are those where ships sit on the riverbed or seabed at low tide rather than staying afloat. The practice is common in ports with high tidal ranges, but there is a real risk to ships if the bed of the berth pocket is in any way obstructed or uneven. To avoid major liability claims for hull damage and subsequent disruption to port operations, port authorities need to ensure their NAABSA berths are regularly surveyed, dredged and levelled. In addition, all dropped cargo incidents need to be investigated and resolved without delay. 

The volume of freight containers lost overboard at sea continues to fluctuate. Each incident is a stark reminder to everyone in the transport and logistics sector of the need to take steps to prevent such losses, recognising that every lost container can have major environmental, financial and reputational impacts for supply chain actors. TT Club continues to support efforts to mitigate risk through participation in intergovernmental and industry led groups targeted at understanding and addressing the associated risks.   

In this episode, Jos Koning, Naval Architect at MARIN and Josh Finch discuss Top Teir. A joint industry project headed by MARIN, the group of over 40 stakeholders are on a quest to identify the root causes driving container loss at sea, the possible mitigating actions available - and whether they could they be adopted in practice through changing standards and regulations, in a way that can be successfully accepted by all involved, from authorities to industry.

Sara Fisher, Head of Operations & Business Development at the British Parking Association talks to Josh Finch about the latest safe and secure parking certification process, Park Mark Freight.

The global trade in counterfeit goods is a constant threat to economies, consumers and supply chains around the world. According to a May 2025 report by OECD and the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the illegal trade in fake and potentially dangerous goods is worth over US$450 billion a year. As such counterfeit cargoes continue to expose transport and logistics professionals to fines, product liability claims and abandonment costs if they fail to spot them.

As the maritime industry continues to evolve in response to global pressures, ranging from climate volatility to labour shortages and rising operational costs, bulk cargo terminals are increasingly turning to automation. While container terminals have long been the focus of digital transformation and automation, are bulk terminals beginning to embrace automation as a strategic imperative?

The brightest and smartest innovations in port safety were once more showcased at the TOC Europe 2025 Safety Village in Rotterdam on 17–19 June. TT Club, ICHCA International and TOC Worldwide again teamed up for a three-day celebration of gold-standard safety solutions at the world's leading container supply chain event, attended by over 4,500 professionals.

Kind leadership - what it is it? And how is it relevant to the supply chain and logistics industry?