WSC launches industry-first Cargo Safety Programme to prevent fires

The World Shipping Council (WSC) recently launched its Cargo Safety Programme, an industry-led initiative to detect misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods to prevent ship fires and protect crew members, vessels, cargo and the marine environment.

The programme combines artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cargo screening and common inspection standards to identify misdeclared and undeclared high-risk shipments before they are loaded.

The World Shipping Council has launched its Cargo Safety Programme, an initiative to detect misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods to prevent ship fires and protect vessels and the marine environment.
The programme combines AI-powered cargo screening and common inspection standards.
At launch, carriers representing more than 70 per cent of global TEU capacity have joined the programme.

Misdeclared dangerous goods are a leading cause of ship fires, reported as responsible for more than a quarter of all cargo-related incidents.

“The WSC Cargo Safety Program strengthens the industry’s safety net by combining shared screening technology, common inspection standards, and real-world feedback to reduce risk,” said Joe Kramek, president and chief executive officer of the council, in a release.

At the heart of the programme is a digital cargo screening tool powered by the National Cargo Bureau’s (NCB) technology. It scans millions of bookings in real time using keyword searches, trade pattern recognition and AI-driven algorithms to identify potential risks. Alerts are reviewed by carriers and, when needed, verified through targeted physical inspections.

The programme also establishes common inspection standards for verifying shipments and an incident feedback loop to ensure lessons from real-world cases strengthen prevention. At launch, carriers representing more than 70 per cent of global TEU capacity have joined the programme.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)