Best Practices for Freight Safety Amidst Natural Calamities
Logistics operations are heavily exposed to the elements. Rough seas, adverse weather, and seismic events can severely impede shipping operations and may pose safety risks to cargo. To cushion its effects, businesses must ascertain freight safety from beginning to end of the supply chain. Incorporating cargo safety in every disaster preparedness plan helps business owners manage their assets, ensure operational continuity, and build resilience.
Freight safety involves careful contingency planning, secure packing, and close coordination with your preferred cargo shipping company. Here are a couple of steps you can take to maintain cargo safety.
5 Tips for Cargo Safety in the Face of Natural Calamities
1. Monitor government alerts
Safety alerts from monitoring agencies are critical in determining the day-to-day movement of vessels. Align your freight safety measures with mild, moderate, and severe natural events. Keep an eye on alerts from the following government agencies:
- National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) – Disaster management
- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) – Flooding and weather
- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) – Earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity
Ports and shipping companies coordinate closely with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), MARINA, and Philippine Coast Guard to ensure continuous coordination and exercise safety protocols for critical situations.
Because typhoons are most damaging to vessels, strict “No Sail” policies are imposed by these agencies when Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 or higher is raised by the PAGASA. Ships that are underway must immediately seek shelter and inform the PCG of their status.
2. Create a contingency plan
Formulate robust contingency plans for freight safety. The measures you will take may depend on the nature of your cargo, the method of shipment (container or loose cargo), shipping routes, and communication with your preferred cargo shipping company. An effective disaster readiness plan involves thorough planning, coordination, and assessment of your cargo and facilities.
- Conduct risk assessment and strategize mitigation efforts
- Determine actions for emergency response (e.g. operational suspension, enhancing cargo security)
- Invest in disaster readiness drills and simulations
- Establish communication lines and incident reporting with local authorities
- Perform post-event asset reviews, cargo inspection, and documentation
- Coordinate closely with cargo shipping lines
3. Obtain cargo insurance
Cargo insurance protects your business from potential financial losses due to damage to goods, which may result from natural calamities. Insurance gives you confidence that any damaged inventory will be compensated, and provides you with ample capital to replace goods, restore stocks, reroute shipments, and ensure business continuity.
Shipping companies typically apply cargo insurance based on the declared value on the bill of lading, however, clients may opt to pay additional insurance to cover higher value products beyond the carrier’s coverage.
4. Pack cargo properly
Weather-proof your cargo by applying the best packaging practices. For small express cargo, choose a sturdy box in the right size, fill in the gaps with proper cushioning, and seal the container to prevent water damage.
For containerized freight, distribute the weight evenly, and use void fillers to prevent items from shifting or rolling around. Strap down bulky items or use anti-slip mats to increase friction between the bottom of the cargo and the container floor. If you are shipping hazardous goods, be sure to place these items near the container door.
5. Partner with a reputable shipping company
A reliable shipping company will protect your cargo at all times, and must be transparent and proactive when it comes to natural calamities. Their expert planning, monitoring, and maintenance measures guarantee cargo safety throughout the entire logistics process. Shipping services conduct their own safety protocols in preparation for natural calamities, such as alert monitoring, vessel maintenance, emergency response training, cargo securing, route planning, and port or warehouse management.
Maintaining clear and constant communication with shipping lines is crucial to business owners, so they incorporate the use of technology to perform accurate, real-time monitoring of cargo. They also offer comprehensive financial protection to clients to mitigate any losses.
Natural disasters are inevitable, which is why you must take extra steps to safeguard cargo. Disaster readiness extends to asset protection and business continuity, where preparedness is a small price to pay to sustain a smooth supply chain flow.
ALSO READ: 6 Sea Freight Advantages for Businesses in the Philippines
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