The initiative, announced on 15 September, brings together artificial intelligence-powered cargo screening and common inspection standards to identify high-risk shipments before loading. According to Allianz’s Safety and Shipping Review 2025, ship fires are currently at their highest level in more than a decade, with misdeclared dangerous goods responsible for over a quarter of all cargo-related incidents.
At launch, carriers representing more than 70% of global container shipping capacity have signed up to the programme. The screening tool, powered by the US-based National Cargo Bureau, reviews millions of bookings in real time, using keyword searches, trade pattern recognition and AI-driven algorithms. Suspicious bookings can then be flagged for verification through targeted physical inspections.
“The WSC Cargo Safety Programme strengthens the industry’s safety net by combining shared screening technology, common inspection standards, and real-world feedback to reduce risk,” said Joe Kramek, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. He added that accurate shipper declarations remained “the starting point for safety, and … required under international law.”
The programme also establishes a standardised process for inspections and creates a feedback loop so lessons from real-world incidents can be integrated into prevention measures. WSC said the system would be updated regularly to respond to new and emerging risks.
