Both parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
agreeing to produce clearly defined guidelines for global movement of cargo. By
working on joint projects both bodies should improve standards across numerous
safety issues affecting the transport of dangerous goods, ICHCA said in a
statement.
“The extraordinary disaster in Beirut last August was an all
too unwelcome wake-up call to everyone involved in the transport, storage and
distribution of dangerous materials,” said ICHCA CEO, Richard Steele.
“However, similar incidents, smaller in proportion, yet
damaging to life and limb as well as properly happen across the supply chain on
a frequent basis. The mutual cooperation of IVODGA and ICHCA will be aimed at
the universal understanding and application of measures for the safe handling
and storage of a range of goods with potential to cause explosions, fires and
noxious gas emissions etc.”
“The mutual goal and the shared respect of our two
organisations will quickly result in a positive contribution to a clear and
efficient communication between not just our respective members but crucially
across all stakeholders in the supply chain whose interests touch any and all
hazardous materials”, added Vice Chair of IVODGA and Special Adviser to ICHCA
International, Uffe V. Ernst Frederiksen.
More than 100 hundred people died and 4,000 were injured
during the disaster in Beirut in August 2020. The explosion was caused by the
ignition of tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate that was improperly
stored at the port. This new MoU aims to ensure tragedies like this won’t
happen again.