Freight industry appears oblivious to new hazardous goods rules

Alan Peat
IT IS unclear just how alert the freight transport industry is to the new hazardous goods regulations introduced in August, according to John Hill, m.d. of Associated Marine and chairman of the Association of Marine Underwriters of SA (Amusa).
This effectively assigned liability, in the case of an accident involving hazardous goods, to all the parties involved in that transport leg - including cargo owners or agents, recipients and transporters.
Despite an anticipated rush for insurance cover for hazardous cargo transport, there has been "not a sausage", Hill told FTW.
"Have people really realised that there is a need for them to be covered," he said. "I thought the legislation held them responsible for these cargoes. Yet they (these liable parties) seem to be a bit remiss."
Hill, as yet, has found no-one in the transport industry in SA who is looking for hazardous goods cover although there is the slim possibility that other cover might be used.
This is a possibly dangerous situation for the unprotected, he added.
"One would imagine they would now be naked," said Hill, "and sitting at high risk."