About Us

ICHCA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is a membership organisation originally established in 1952 and incorporated in 2002. It is dedicated to the promotion of safety and efficiency in the handling and movement of goods by all modes and during all phases of both national and international transport chains.

ICHCA International is run by an ten person Board whose members are:

John Strang International Chairman
David Bendall, Deputy Chairman
Sergio Galvan Montesdeoca, Director and General Secretary of Canarias / Africa Regional Chapter
Anthony Grant, Director and Chairman of ICHCA Australia Limited
James H. Hartung, Director and Immediate Past Chairman
Laurence Jones, Director
Richard Marks, Finance Director.
Rosemary Neilson, Company Secretary/Executive Director
Bala Subramaniam, Director of Training and International Liaison
Hajime Tsuchida, Director & Chairman of ICHCA Japan

Ex-officio Members:
Mike Compton, Chairman, International Safety Panel
 


It operates through a series of National Sections, Regional Chapters, Panels, Working Groups and Correspondence Groups and represents the cargo handling world at various international organisations.

Click to see information on : National Sections    Regional Chapters

The following summarises our activities:

  • We are represent our members and the industry at international level.
  • We have an influential and international membership in many countries, spanning all five continents, with National Sections in Australia, Japan, USA and a Canarias / Africa Regional Chapter, who can put you in direct contact with industry colleagues around the world.
  • Our membership represents a substantial cross-section of senior corporate executives, cargo handling experts, safety professionals, experts in a variety of disciplines which relate to cargo handling, including insurance, standardisation and inspection, leading consultants, academics and authorities in the world of cargo handling and transport.
  • We can provide management information and exchange of technical data relating to methods and techniques in the industry whilst taking account of future trends and training needs.
  • We arrange opportunities for our membership to meet at international, national and regional levels at conferences, symposia, meetings, workshops and other social occasions for the interchange of information. We can assist with both formal and informal contacts in our industry.
  • We accept and guarantee to find answers to technical questions relating to cargo handling matters. This information can be supplemented by the expertise amongst our membership. Any material from a variety of sources can be submitted by members.
  • We produce publications for members, including bi-monthly electronic newsletters with the latest cargo handling news, an annual review incorporating topical trends and developments, plus individual "best practice" publications developed by our Panels. The latter cover a wide variety of issues and technical matters.
  • We participate in and monitor the activities of the regulatory bodies of government, non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations to ensure that concerns of our membership are voiced at the earliest discussion stage in the formulation of agreements, rules, regulations and laws. We have non-governmental (NGO) consultative status with a number of inter-governmental agencies whose programme of work impacts on the activities of the international cargo handling and transportation industry.

    The main international organisations that we liaise with are the International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Standards Organisation (ISO)
  • We maintain a liaison status with a number of international industry bodies and can take an active role in their activities where it relates to our members' interests.

    These organisations include International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), Baltic & International Maritime Council (BIMCO), International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI), Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA), Container Owners Association (COA), Through Transport Mutual Services (UK) Limited (TT Club), plus many regional and national organisations relating to our interests.
  • We make regular contributions to debates on a wide range of industry issues around the world and, in many cases, have had a direct effect on the formation of international regulations and legislation. Our representative function is carried out by staff of the Registered Office, as well as International Safety Panel members and others. Details of such activities are reported in our bi-monthly publication - Cargo World - The Newsletter.
  • All members of ICHCA International can attend IMO meetings as part of the ICHCA International delegation. Arrangements are made through the Registered Office.
  • We promote policies and projects that will improve the safety and efficiency of physical handling of cargo in all transport modes.