The World Shipping Council (WSC) has launched a new AI-based screening tool to detect misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods in shipping containers.
It launched the initiative as part of its Cargo Safety Program, to improve the capacity to identify fire risks and increase protection for crews, ships and the environment. Carriers representing more than 70 per cent of global twenty-foot equivalent units capacity have signed up to the scheme.
The new screening tool is based on National Cargo Bureau technology. It scans millions of bookings using keyword searches, trade-pattern recognition and AI algorithms to identify potential risks. Alerts are reviewed by carriers and, when needed, verified through targeted physical inspections.
Maritime insurance provider Allianz’s Safety and Shipping Review 2025 warns that ship fires are at their highest level in more than a decade, with several high-profile incidents in recent weeks. The firm states that misdeclared dangerous goods are the cause of more than a quarter of all cargo-related incidents.
Joe Kramek, WSC President and CEO, said: ‘We have seen too many tragic incidents where misdeclared cargo has led to catastrophic fires, including the loss of life. 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.’