India seeks tighter container safety, cargo disclosure norms in IMO meet

Following a series of vessel fires and sinkings near Indian waters, India has urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to urgently strengthen global norms for container safety and cargo disclosure. The appeal was made during the ongoing session of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, signaling India’s growing concerns over maritime risks and safety gaps in the global freight forwarding sector.

This development follows the sinking of the Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3 and a persistent fire on the MV Wan Hai 503, which remains partially extinguished. Officials familiar with the matter emphasized that such incidents highlight systemic gaps in current maritime protocols, particularly in freight handling processes at Indian ports.

India’s intervention aims to drive urgent reform in ocean freight forwarding regulations to ensure better transparency and accountability from shipping lines and freight forwarding companies. With rising global trade volumes, especially via ocean routes, the need for supply chain management freight forwarding protocols has become more critical than ever.

Industry experts note that poorly declared or misdeclared cargo, including hazardous materials, significantly increases risks aboard vessels impacting not only the safety of crew and cargo but also disrupting the broader freight supply systems chain solutions.

As India ramps up its maritime infrastructure and expands global trade ties, it is advocating for tighter international compliance, particularly in the supply chain and freight forwarding sectors. The call also aligns with India’s strategy to improve ocean freight forwarding logistics and ensure safer freight handling at major ports.