News / WSC to boost cargo safety with AI screening technology

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AI is set to come to the rescue of box lines, after the World Shipping Council (WSC) announced the launch of its Cargo Safety Program. 

An industry-led initiative, the programme will use technology to detect misdeclared cargo, and undeclared dangerous goods, in a bid to promote safety at sea. 

Misdeclared dangerous goods are a leading cause of ship fires, reported as responsible for more than a quarter of all cargo-related incidents, according to WSC. 

“We have seen too many tragic incidents where misdeclared cargo has led to catastrophic fires, including the loss of life,” said Joe Kramek, WSC president and CEO.  

“The WSC Cargo Safety Program strengthens the industry’s safety net by combining shared screening technology, common inspection standards, and real-world feedback to reduce risk.” 

The cargo screening tool is powered by National Cargo Bureau’s (NCB) technology, which can scan millions of bookings in real time, using keyword searches, trade pattern recognition and algorithms, with any alerts then reviewed by carriers. It will work alongside carriers’ existing risk tools.

The programme also establishes common inspection standards for verifying shipments and an “incident feedback loop” to ensure lessons from real-world cases are learned. 

More than 70% of global teu capacity has joined the programme, although lines will stagger the onboarding process, said WSC. 

“By working together and using the best available tools, we can identify risks early, act quickly, and prevent accidents before they happen,” Mr Kramek said.  

“The Cargo Safety Program is a powerful new layer of protection, but it does not replace the fundamental obligation shippers have to declare dangerous goods accurately. That is the starting point for safety, and it is required under international law.” 

Mike Yarwood, managing director, loss prevention for TT Club, welcomed the move.

“Overall, the programme is a significant step forward and is aligned with TT Club’s priorities for cargo safety, risk reduction, and supply chain reliability. Naturally, ongoing feedback, review and further collaboration through broader participation would make it even stronger.”

The Global Shippers’ Forum also welcomed the initiative.

Ship fires are at their highest level in over a decade, according to Allianz’s Safety and Shipping Review 2025. However, at last week’s International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) annual conference, delegates heard that cargo loss ratios – the balance between premiums earned and claims paid – have improved consistently across most regions since 2018. The claims environment has also remained “relatively benign, with no major catastrophic losses reported in 2024”. 

Mike Brews, chair of the IUMI Cargo Committee, said: “The cargo market remains stable in terms of global premium income. We’ve seen a particularly large jump from China this year, though much of that is likely a correction of previously under-reported insurance on returns. That said, our sector continues to grapple with ongoing challenges, including cargo accumulations, mis-declared cargoes, the transition to net-zero and war-related risks. However, overall 2024 brought no unexpected shocks.” 

According to Ilias Tsakiris, chair of the IUMI Ocean Hull Committee: “Although in headline numbers, losses have not surged, loss ratios remain under pressure because of higher costs, more expensive incidents and an ageing fleet that is harder to repair,” he said. 

The committee reported that in 2024 global hull premium increased by about 3.5%, reaching $9.67bn, with Europe accounting for about 53%, Asia/Pacific 35%, and other regions 12%. 

Loss severity remains above pre-Covid levels, led by machinery failures. Fires and explosions remain “relatively few but costly”; while collision and grounding frequencies have edged up, said IUMI. 

The WSC said its new programme would “continue to evolve”. 

“Ocean carriers transport the goods vital to the flow of global trade, and we have a responsibility to move them safely,” Mr Kramek added. “By raising the bar on cargo screening, we are protecting lives, safeguarding the environment and improving the integrity of the global supply chain.”