DCT cracks down on incorrect IMDG labelling

Durban Container Terminals

(DCT) has advised that

transporters entering the

terminal to pick up or drop off

cargo should

correctly

display the

relevant

dangerous

good signage

on trucks and

containers –

or risk being

turned away.

“Transnet

Port Terminals

(TPT) will not

be held liable

for short shipments and will

not entertain requests for

storage waiver or leniency,”

said Tshwaelo Mathlape, DCT

terminal manager.

The directors of Hazcom

DGR – which offers training

for legal compliance in respect

of fleets, drivers, goods

handling methods and storage

configuration – told FTW

recently that only about 10%

of South African transporters,

handling and storage facilities

were fully compliant with the

South African National Road

Traffic Act’s dangerous goods

regulations, which includes

correctly

displaying the

relevant labels.

Hazcom

director

Brendan

Adams said

that even

labels that

were faded,

damaged,

were not the

right size

or were not

affixed to a truck or container

according the IMDG Code

regulations would be seen as

non-compliant.

Chairperson of the Durban

Harbour Carriers’ Association,

Sue Moodley, said that lack of

enforcement of the regulations

by TPT, shipping lines, agents

and transport operators had

been the biggest problem

to date. “If there is a lack of

enforcement, there will be

non-compliance,” Moodley

commented.

She said that the

responsibility for compliance

was shared between all

relevant parties and that

proper training – of port

personnel and truck drivers

– was the way to go to ensure

improved compliance.

“If trucks are turned away

they could incur extra storage

costs and face a loss of revenue

if the product misses its

delivery date,” said Moodley.

And while transporters and the

DCT operate on a 24/7 basis,

the shipping agents, depots

and shipping lines do not. “So

if there is a problem that occurs

after hours or over weekends,

there could be an even further

delay that results in the cargo

being stored in an unsafe

environment,” she said.

Furthermore there is a

safety issue. “There have been

incidents of misdeclared cargo

loaded onto a ship, thus not

stored correctly on the vessel

and causing a fire."

INSERT & CAPTION

If there is a lack

of enforcement,

there will be noncompliance.

– Sue Moodley