2015 Global Shippers’ Forum annual report addresses climate change and mega-vessel impact

As the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) concludes its first financial trading year 2014-15, its Annual Report reflects on the achievements of the past 12 months including how it has worked with other organizations in its role as an effective voice for shippers around the world.

At the same time, it states the need to engage in the emerging debate about the impact of mega shipping vessels and maritime alliances.

In the past year the GSF has helped facilitate an important revision of the former guidelines for the safe securing and stowage of cargo transport units through its chairmanship of a joint government and industry working group. 

This has led to agreement by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization to introduce a new code of practice, which will greatly improve transport safety throughout the multimodal transport supply chain.

In addition, the IMO agreed to new rules for verification of the gross mass weights of goods and containers, which included a compromise proposal recommended and supported by the GSF.

The compromise proposal was recognized by IMO member state representatives and other maritime industry stakeholders as a practical solution to a complex issue which presented real implementation and enforcement challenges.

“It is widely acknowledged that the GSF’s contribution to the work of IMO and other UN transport and safety organizations on behalf of global shippers has been significant and of a high quality,” says Robert Ballantyne – GSF Chairman and President.

He adds that this Annual Report reflects the continued progress GSF has made in its role “as an effective voice for shippers around the world,” and illustrates the significant successes it has had in that time.”

Bruce Carlton, president of the National Industrial Transportation League, sits on the GSF board. He told SCMR that it appears that the new alliances “were the next big step” to squeeze cost out of the carriers’ operations, and it remains to be seen if the strategy really worked.

“With the massive losses experienced by most carriers in recent years—and little or no reason to expect much improvement in the short run—the upside for shippers is the maintenance of choice of carrier and the competitive advantages that come with that,” he adds.