News Releases in 2006
December 11 2006
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Miyahara) has hosted a series of conferences in Shanghai and Tokyo about safety measures when shipping dangerous goods. Representatives from the UK P&I Club,*1 a third-party liability insurance association for shipowners, participated as guest speakers. The conferences were held to deepen knowledge about the handling of dangerous goods and chemicals in order to prevent accidents when shipping, accidents that may occur as a result of false declarations.
In recent years, fires caused by dangerous goods and chemicals, in addition to a number of other factors, such as an increase in the volume of containerized cargo, particularly cargo shipped from Asia, and the size of containerships, have been reported by a number of companies. It is anticipated that the number of such accidents will continue to increase.
For this reason, the NYK Container Trade Management Group began a Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Sea Campaign from September 1, 2006. The campaign encourages strengthening measures to prevent shipments of dangerous goods that have been falsely declared. Specific activities include the following:
- Enhancing checking functions when booking shipments of dangerous goods and chemicals
- Introducing an online e-learning program*2 for the handling of dangerous goods
- Establishing a dangerous goods help desk to cover booking offices around the world
To prevent accidents that result from false declarations of dangerous goods and chemicals, NYK continues to encourage other shipping companies, our customers, insurance companies, government offices, and other relevant groups to participate in safety activities related to dangerous goods and chemicals.
| *1. | The UK P&I Club is a protection and indemnity association that offers third-party liability insurance to shipowners on a mutual non-profit basis. Established in 1869, the UK P&I Club is the world's leading P&I club with over 100 million gross tons of vessels from approximately 80 countries around the world covered. P&I insurance covers the diverse risk taken on by shipowners and charterers. Approximately 90 percent of international oceangoing vessels are covered by P&I clubs. |
| *2. | The e-learning program for dangerous items is an Internet-accessible self-study program that covers dangerous cargo handling, booking, and acceptance. |
