THE WORLD Shipping Council is lifting the bar on detecting mis-declared and undeclared dangerous goods to prevent ship fires.
It has announced an industry-first Cargo Safety Program to prevent ship fires.
A media release on 15 September said the industry-led initiative would help to detect misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods in order to prevent ship fires, protect crews, vessels, customers’ cargo, and the marine environment.
“The program combines AI-powered cargo screening and common inspection standards to identify mis-declared and undeclared high-risk shipments before they are loaded,” the release said.
“Ship fires are at their highest level in over a decade, according to Allianz's Safety and Shipping Review 2025.
“Mis-declared dangerous goods are a leading cause of ship fires, reported as responsible for more than a quarter of all cargo-related incidents.”
CEO and president of the council, Joe Kramek said there are too many tragic incidents where mis-declared cargo has led to catastrophic fires, including the loss of life.
“The WSC Cargo Safety Program strengthens the industry’s safety net by combining shared screening technology, common inspection standards, and real-world feedback to reduce risk.”
At the heart of the program is a digital cargo screening tool powered by the National Cargo Bureau’s (NCB) technology. It scans millions of bookings in real time using keyword searches, trade pattern recognition and AI-driven algorithms to identify potential risks. Alerts are reviewed by carriers and, when needed, verified through targeted physical inspections.
The program also establishes common inspection standards for verifying shipments and an incident feedback loop to ensure lessons from real-world cases strengthen prevention.
At launch, carriers representing more than 70% of global TEU capacity have joined the program.
“By working together and using the best available tools, we can identify risks early, act quickly, and prevent accidents before they happen,” Mr Kramek said.
“The Cargo Safety Program is a powerful new layer of protection, but it does not replace the fundamental obligation shippers have to declare dangerous goods accurately. That is the starting point for safety, and it is required under international law.”
The launch builds on WSC’s work to improve maritime safety, from developing cargo handling rules to supporting environmental protection measures.
The program will continue to evolve, with regular updates to its technology and standards to address new and emerging risks.
“Ocean carriers transport the goods vital to the flow of global trade, and we have a responsibility to move them safely,” Mr Kramek said.
“By raising the bar on cargo screening, we are protecting lives, safeguarding the environment and improving the integrity of the global supply chain.”