The cargo handling industry has long been a hotbed of innovation, but the past decade has seen a remarkable surge in creative solutions aimed at enhancing safety. The ICHCA hosted TT Club Innovation in Safety Award, now in its tenth year, has witnessed a staggering increase in the diversity of entries, reflecting a sector that’s not just keeping up with the times but setting the pace. This year, the sheer volume and variety of submissions prompted TT and ICHCA to divide the awards into four distinct categories, each celebrating a winner and a highly-commended entrant.
The categories are a testament to the industry’s evolving focus on safety: Turning data into insight, Learning and engagement, Making operations safer, and Segregating people and machine. The winners are a who’s who of innovative thinking. Voxel’s AI-powered worksite visibility platform took home the top prize in the data category, while Pandora Intelligence’s cargo intelligence system was highly commended. In learning and engagement, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and ITF Seafarers’ Trust’s app-based worker training programme stole the show, with Port Skills and Safety Ltd’s emergency flash cards as a close second. RAM Spreaders’ automatic pipe handling spreader and Straatman Mooring Systems’ permanent bollard with sensors were category winners in their respective fields, with CEPA cv’s ergonomic lashing tool and SSA Marine’s AI-driven RTG camera system as runners-up.
The awards ceremony, held in London, was a vibrant showcase of the industry’s commitment to safety. ICHCA’s CEO, Richard Steele, highlighted the judging panel’s challenge in selecting winners from a field of exceptional ideas. “As ever the judging panel felt that all the original ideas were worthy of congratulations, and further exposure,” Steele said. This sentiment was echoed by TT’s Managing Director, Loss Prevention, Mike Yarwood, who emphasized the need for greater visibility and scalability of these innovations. “The excellence of these, and many of the other innovations put forward deserve a greater degree of visibility. This is our prime aim in proliferating the Awards in order to encourage our innovators to seek scalability, and by giving their ideas oxygen to stimulate their adoption and adaption by others within the global cargo handling environment.”
The shift from practical operational devices to technology-based solutions and advanced training programs is a clear trend. Steele underscored the importance of this diversity, stating, “Such diversity of entries is truly welcomed. Safety innovation is an exciting element that compliments wide ranging industry work to establish distinct safety culture throughout organisations. A well-run safety-conscious operation is both efficient and sustainable. Running organisations successfully and doing safety well require truly visible and effective commitment from management at all levels.”
This year’s awards are more than just a pat on the back for the winners; they’re a call to action for the entire industry. The Innovation in Safety Award is part of a broader initiative by TT and ICHCA to foster a global community of safety-conscious professionals. By sharing experiences and innovations, the industry can collectively tackle safety risks and drive meaningful change. This year’s winners and highly-commended entries are a testament to what can be achieved when innovation and safety go hand in hand. The future of cargo handling is bright, and it’s clear that technology and training will play pivotal roles in shaping it. As the industry continues to evolve, so too will the innovations that keep it safe and efficient. The ball is now in the court of industry stakeholders to take these innovations and run with them, scaling them up and adapting them to create a safer, more efficient global cargo handling environment.