When it comes to the movement of hazardous cargo, safety and efficiency are at the forefront of M&S Logistics’ priorities. The pursuit of optimised safety is never ending, and keeping up to date with new legislation and developments is crucial, a point highlighted by Melanie de Valence, general manager – Africa. “It is imperative that global logistics companies, such as ours, ensure that they are up to date with new safety legislation at all times. All our staff are certified to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and complete an annual IMDG course, which is hosted by the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO),” said De Valence. This underscores the wider importance of greater safety in the dangerous cargo sector and the potential impact on lives, communities and the environment.According to De Valence, all M&S Logistics staff are trained in the understanding and complexity of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), a technical document that provides details and comprehensive information on the potential hazards and controlled products. “Not only do they need to be up to date with the MSDS, but more importantly, how to read it accurately and handle these types of inquiries and work safely with the chemical product alongside the company’s Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, especially in our company where we move products in bulk form.” She said the company had established itself as experts in dangerous cargo, making sure they were up to speed with local regulations and international laws, adding that company-wide compliance and certifications were robustly audited. Commenting on how South Africa compared to the rest of the world in terms of logistics, D e Va lenc e recognised that there were still areas that needed improvement but, despite the levelling up required, South African logistics companies were on a par with international logistics. What was concerning, she said, was the way dangerous goods were moved in South Africa as a high volume was moved by road. “A drive towards transporting more dangerous goods via the rail networks would be advantageous.” Another potentially hazardous area is the fact that local drivers, despite being hazchem approved, are only responsible for a part of the supply chain. “This lack of ‘cradle-to-grave’ control is probably the biggest challenge the industry faces,” explained De Valence. “Accidents can happen at any time and anywhere with these goods. It is essential to ensure sufficient and effective training takes place for all people in the global logistics chain who work with dangerous goods, and for them to fully understand the risks associated with the movement of these types of products.”Another challenge is the availability of storage facilities and the number of service providers who are simply no longer prepared to carry or handle certain hazardous products. “Vessel space has become a major hurdle as other cargo is always accepted before hazardous cargo,” said De Valence. “There is also a shortage of depots and storage solutions, especially bulk liquid in ISOtanks. Some port terminals are only accepting hazardous products on the last day of the stack, putting pressure on transporters who have to contend with port congestion.” According to De Valence, across the board there is a move towards more stringent policies. “Shipping lines are getting very strict regarding hazardous cargo, despite dangerous goods still accounting for a large volume of exports and impor ts.”She said the company was extremely positive in its outlook for the sector, which has seen growth during the past year’s disruption. “All sectors of the logistics chain however need to be vigilant and, crucially, invest heavily in their safety standards and have the correct procedures in place at all times.” Shipping lines are getting very strict regarding hazardous cargo, despite dangerous goods still accounting for a large volume of exports and imports.– Melanie de Valence
