ICHCA International (ICHCA) and TT Club have recognised the crucial role played by organisations across the world in constantly searching for better solutions to the challenges of improved safety in the cargo handling industry. 

Viking was named the winner of the 2022 safety award for its innovative HydroPen system designed to fight onboard container fires.

The virtual award ceremony, streamed from TT Club’s offices in London, also recognised finalists PSA International and Cargotec Sweden AB.

Event host and ICHCA CEO Richard Steele said: “The list of innovations from our award entrants is truly exciting. Innovation doesn’t just happen by itself. All the participants have put in hard work, drive and ambition and I am sure there are many entries not short-listed today that will inspire others in the industry and achieve practical success in reducing accidents.

“To that end, we will be providing a digest of all the entries in the coming months.”

Steele also thanked the panel of judges, made up of professionals from across the industry including representation from the International Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF), for their dedicated, conscientious work.

The winner, Viking’s HydroPen, helps address the increasing incidence of fire in containers while onboard ships at sea. The complexity of the cargoes carried and the frequent challenge of accessing the containers makes fighting fires most difficult for the first responders, the ship’s crew. HydroPen enables such fires to be attended from a safe distance and the judges were particularly impressed by the specific online training that is provided with each unit. 

PSA International’s highly commended Video Analytics solution helps with preventing in-terminal collisions of the heavy cargo handling equipment that can be so damaging to both life and cargo, while Cargotec’s innovation deals with the tricky task of container inspections from below  - safely identifying any damage to the underside of containers and ensuring they are clean and free of any invasive pests. 

The three finalists were selected from more than 30 entries.