Document

It has come to our attention that the European Commission has taken the initiative to formulate Best Practice Guidelines for Securing Cargo transported within the Union. The European Shippers’ Council welcomes this initiative, since regulations within Europe covering the securing of loads in road transportation are not harmonised. Developing and disseminating best practice of securing loads correctly on lorries can contribute to increased road safety, fewer damaged loads and unnecessary costs.

In ESC’s opinion such best practice guidelines should be based on the existing IMO/ILO/UN ECE Guidelines (IMO Model Course 3.18), which are approved by all the world’s coastal nations and based on easy and safe procedures. The problem with the other standard that is being considered - CEN 12 195-1 – is that to comply it is necessary, in most cases, to triple or quadruple the amount of lashings for the cargo due to a different calculation method. ESC considers that securing cargo based on the CEN norm would not only fail to increase safety, it would also cause a dramatic cost increase which will have to be paid for by the consumer. ESC therefore recommends that the European best practice guidelines are based on the IMO/ILO/UN/ECE guidelines, and that the CEN norm is either revised or not implemented.

Thank you for the attention you may give to our views.

Ewout Sandker
Policy Manager

For further information contact: Nicolette van der Jagt, Secretary General of the ESC - Brussels 00 322 230 2113