Ensuring Safe Container Shipping and Road Transport in Australia/New Zealand: Guidance for Maersk Customers and their Suppliers

The Safe Container Loading and Transport Guides ‘A Guide to Safety Laws in Australia and New Zealand’ and ‘A Frontline Worker’s Companion Guide to Safety Law in Australia and New Zealand’, are designed for Australian and New Zealand companies to distribute to their overseas partners, providing a general overview into regulations to consider when loading shipping containers bound for Australia and New Zealand. The companion guide is available in simplified Chinese, for those who work with overseas suppliers where this is their primary written language.

The guides were developed by CoRsafe, an end-to-end Chain of Responsibility (CoR) management software company, in collaboration with Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA). The guides are underpinned by similar work completed by Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

The comprehensive resource is designed to help you understand the best practices for container packing, load restraint, and risk management. The distribution of these guides to the Maersk community, supports a safer, more reliable supply chain, reflecting our commitment to constant care and regulatory compliance.

Why Safe Packing and Road Transport Matters - Key Points to Communicate with Your Stakeholders

Improper or careless packing of freight into shipping containers, or a failure to use proper load restraints, can lead to serious consequences, including:

• Accidents and injuries during handling or transport, such as on-road accidents or injuries to workers.
• Damage to the cargo itself, handling equipment, transport infrastructure, or even the environment.
• Workplace injuries and risks to workers involved in packing, unpacking, or moving containers.
• Legal breaches and non-compliance with laws in Australia and New Zealand, impacting all parties in the supply chain.

Proper packing and load restraint are critical to ensuring safety, preventing damage, and meeting legal obligations.

Maersk's Values in Safe Shipping & Transport

Some examples of how Maersk’s values align closely with the guide’s goals:

• Constant Care: We prioritise safety at every stage, from packing/unpacking, shipping including road transport.
• Humbleness: We listen, learn and collaborate, valuing diverse perspectives and focusing on creating shared success.
• Uprightness: Compliance and transparency are essential to our operations.
• Our Employees: The safety of everyone handling or transporting your cargo is paramount.
• Our Name: Create value for our customers and the world around us.

By living these values, we improve life for all by integrating the world responsibly, safely and sustainably.

Scan the QR code to download the guides, or visit:
logss.com.au/container-guide-additional-resources

This article is general information only.

More compliance resources for safe road and container transport:
CTU Code: This international code sets essential guidelines for safe cargo packing.
National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide.