TT Live

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?

"The industry has to police itself in many ways […] for the good of the industry and for the good of the places where they operate."Join Joshua Finch and guest Marcus John, Managing Director, Thomas Miller Sydney, as they discuss wreck removal, including:The complex liabilities surrounding the Costa ConcordiaLarger ships equal larger wrecks - and pose enormous challenges when removing them. The unexpected costs as ships operate in more remote places than before such as New Zealand's North Island. And what happens if these vessels are carrying dangerous goods too? And ... a World War II Harbour Defence boat?

Autonomous ships are set to have a major impact on the world's ports. But while they promise increased efficiency, and safety, and a nice fit with port automation technologies and smart mooring systems, they also raise questions about regulation, liability and cyber security. Port operators need to be prepared to adapt to survive – and perhaps the best place to start is with their own fleet of work boats.  

Loading docks in warehouses and terminals are high-risk environments where people, vehicles and cargo come into close contact. Without strict safety measures, accidents in loading docks can result in serious injuries to workers, costly damage to cargo and equipment, and severe operational disruption. This article outlines the practical steps which warehouse and terminal operators can take to reduce the risks.

Workers in ports, terminals and warehouses need to maintain a high degree of concentration to cope with the complex physical hazards of operating in a busy cargo-handling environment. But simply not drinking enough water can impair their mental abilities in a similar way as consuming alcohol, which may lead to accidents and injuries. Transport and logistics operators need to take the same zero-tolerance approach to worker dehydration as they do for consuming alcohol. 

Project cargoes, particularly offshore wind components, are a growing business opportunity for ports around the world. But the typically large size and weight of these unusual loads also expose port operators to unprecedented risks of infrastructure damage, business interruption, third party liabilities and personal injury claims. A detailed risk and engineering assessment needs to be carried out for each shipment, together with proper planning and a clear contractual definition of liabilities. 

In an increasingly automated container handlingenvironment, port risk management technologies are becoming essential components of terminal resilience planning. An important port equipment safety risk is the snagging of containers while they are being lifted by ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes.  

Traditional mooring lines and bollards have been used to secure ships in ports for thousands of years. But when they fail, the consequences can be catastrophic.In the five policy years leading up to 2021, the International Group of P&I Clubs members were notified of 858 injuries and 31 fatalities that occurred during mooring operations.   With the advent of larger ships and more extreme weather due to climate change, higher mooring loads means such failures are likely to increase. Fortunately, a range of new automated mooring systems could provide port operators with the answer to making their infrastructure safer and more resilient. 

Josh Finch, Logistics Risk Manager at TT Club talks with Mike Dawber, Police Constable with an industry-funded arm of the Police Service, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service or NaVCIS.

Driver shortages, rising operational costs and the need forincreased safety mean that automated trucking operations offer a compelling solution for the transport and logistics industry. Big advances have already been made with automated coupling, loading and driving systems, pavingthe way for fully autonomous trucks and huge productivity gains. However, such smart vehicles also bring new and different risks and liabilities for freight forwarders, warehouse operators and trucking companies. There is a need therefore to undertake due diligence to ensure certainty under contractual agreements with technology providers.

Another above-average season for Atlantic hurricanes isexpected in 2025, reflecting the increasing volatility of global weather systems due to climate change. The forecast serves as reminder to ports, terminals and warehouses to check the robustness of their storm-preparedness procedures as well as their insurance cover for extreme weather events and other weather-related natural disasters. 

Whether rights are assigned or not, courts are reluctant to interfere with existing law on collateral benefits - we look at a recent case concerning a cargo of yellow soybeans partially damaged while being shipper from USA to Egypt. 

Josh Finch, Logistics Risk Manager for TT Club is joined by Chris Kipper, Senior Director of Customer Solutions at Voxel AI, to discuss how the innovative technology provider is revolutionising safety across the transport and logistics industry. Voxel AI enhances safety and operational efficiency for ports and terminal by using AI-powered site intelligence to proactively identify and mitigate risks, such as high-speed collisions and employee injuries.

The seventh annual TT Club Innovation in Safety Awards were presented at Informa's London headquarters on 26 February 2025. They again highlighted a wide range of innovative products, services and processes for improving cargo handling safety. Artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring systems, automated pipe spreaders, container lashing tools, smart bollards, a safety app and an emergency flash card deck for workers were among the submissions duly recognised this year.

Warehouse automation increases efficiency, reduces costs, raises productivity and – most importantly – improves worker safety. This article focuses on the various safety benefits of warehouse automation, including enhanced safety measures, real-time hazard detection, improved training and compliance, and reduced exposure to hazardous conditions.

Warehouse fires are a significant risk to transport andlogistics businesses, potentially causing catastrophic damage to people, property and the environment and significant disruption to the wider supply chain. Effective fire risk assessment and loss prevention plans are crucial to reduce these risks and ensure the safety and continuity of operations. This article looks at various ways to mitigate the risk of warehouse fires. 

In a landmark judgment, the UK Supreme Court has provided crucial clarity on the applicability of the Hague-Visby Rules to claims for cargo misdelivery after discharge. The decision, which upheld the rulings of the lower courts, has significant implications for the interpretation of time bars in maritime law and the responsibilities of carriers post-discharge.

Automation has been proven beyond doubt to improve port performance and enable cargo to be moved more safely, securely and sustainably. There are now more than 50 automated container terminals globally and big advances continue to be made in port automation technologies. As such there is now a strong case for operators of the remaining 95% of the world's terminals which are not yet automated to consider becoming so. 

The world's container cargoes are increasingly at risk of being delayed, damaged, lost or interfered with. Continuing growth in international trade together with ongoing climate change, geopolitical disputes, rogue operators and organised crime gangs means transport and logistics operators need to keep an ever-closer watch on their containers. 

Learn how to avoid unexpected outcomes during refurbishment of buildings and infrastructure. Discover key safety considerations, the importance of collaboration, and effective management strategies to ensure operational safety at ports, terminals, and logistics facilities.

Following the usual biennial cycle, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code has been updated and amended. This latest version, Amendment 42-24, entered transitional effect from 1 January 2025, meaning that stakeholders may start using the revised provisions. Amendment 41-22 will be mandatorily in force until 1 January 2026.

A container ship caught fire and sank near Colombo in Sri Lanka resulting in a total loss. The owner and bareboat charterer successfully claimed limitation of liability in the English Admiralty Court. The three slot charterers also argued for limitation on the basis they could be considered as shipowners too.