Vetting system for terminals

It’s calling on shippers to complete a quick confidential survey each time they leave a terminal which can be submitted online or saved offline to send later.

Lars Robert Pedersen, deputy secretary general, BIMCO, said: “We want to provide shipping companies with some valuable information about dry bulk terminals they can use for better planning and efficiency. Even better, sharing the feedback of the equipment and services of terminals will highlight which ones are performing the best or the least, which we expect to help drive improvement where the need is clear.”

BIMCO has consulted the International Dry Bulk Terminals Group (DBTG) in order to consult with its 42 members, which collectively operate near 300 global terminals. Ian Adams, executive director, DBTG, told Port Strategy that it is very early days, but the organisation would welcome being involved in the formulation of the scheme.

“DBTG focuses on operational and safety issues and then tries to help our members improve efficiency. These are issues that all terminals have to face. This scheme is another tool to help our members improve their operations which can only be a good thing,” he told PS.

Among the categories under scrutiny include handling of loading and offloading, mooring and berthing arrangements, information exchange between the shipper and the terminal, quality and availability of equipment and other relevant services.

Once enough data has been collected BIMCO said the results will be published and terminals will be a given a five star rating providing a quick overview of its performance.