The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) and TT Club have once again hosted their annual award event, the ‘Innovation in Safety Award’.
The ceremony aims to challenge, learn, and raise health and safety standards at ports and terminals, as per Richard Steele’s words, CEO of ICHCA.
The award had 28 entries from 15 different countries, highlighting maritime firms’ products, processes, and services that address safety issues.
In his opening remarks, David Robinson MBE, a 30-year veteran of the marine sector, outlined essential areas that infrastructure firms should consider regarding safety. Robinson identified five critical aspects for improving the marine workforce: leadership, engagement, safety measurement, understatement of high risks, and safety prioritisation.
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The event included four nomination categories: learning and engagement, making operations safer, segregating people and machines, and turning data into insight.
Severe Consequence Risks in Cargo Operations
The final four came down to G2 Ocean AS, Cross Currents 88, Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, and Royal Haskoning DHV.
G2 Ocean AD and Cross Currents 88 safety solutions was ‘Spyder Netting’, a fall barrier system that aims to reduce the risk of falls or minimise the potential for fatality or serious injury in the event of a fall.
Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore introduced the Next Generation Lashing System (NGL) to prevent container loss by reducing container motion and controlling stack dynamics.
Finally, Royal Haskoning DHV’s safety innovation is Smart Mooring, which improves the safety of moored vessel operations in protected and exposed ports by anticipating excessive vessel movements and mooring line forces.
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In a competitive final, ‘Spyder Netting’ from Cross Currents 88 and G2 Ocean AS was crowned the winner.
Steele said: “Falls from height during cargo operations is a vitally important risk to be managed.
“Spyder Netting, a thin layer of plastic film which can be rolled out across gaps and secured between layers of cargo, has already saved lives. Cross Currents has been personally thanked by a stevedore whose fall was arrested by the netting.”
In February 2023, A.P. Moller–Maersk (Maersk) was crowned as the Innovation in Safety Award winner at the awards ceremony for its APMT Vessel Inspection Mobile App.
