Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, headed the nation’s delegation to the 11th sitting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC-11).
The meeting was convened in London from 8th to 12th September 2025, where Ghana asserted its presence in international maritime policymaking.
The CCC serves as the IMO’s specialized body tasked with formulating and updating global protocols and standards that regulate the secure handling and sea transport of various cargo types.
These included solid bulk materials, hazardous substances, liquefied gases, and containerized goods.
Its mandate also extends to setting safety benchmarks for emerging fuel types and refining inspection procedures designed to minimize maritime accidents and safeguard oceanic ecosystems.
This year’s session spotlighted several urgent concerns, with particular emphasis on the escalating issue of containers lost at sea, an occurrence that disrupts logistics networks, endangers maritime navigation, harms aquatic habitats, and drives up operational costs at shipping terminals.
In addition, the Sub-Committee reviewed proposed changes to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, updates to manuals on cargo securing, and the drafting of new guidelines for alternative energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen.
Prof. Gyampo was accompanied by Ms. Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Deputy CEO for Technical Services at GSA; Capt. Derrick Attachie, Executive (Technical II); and Ms. Lydia Tsotsoo Odai-Tettey from the Ghana Maritime Authority.
The delegation engaged actively in technical discussions, especially those with direct implications for port-related business expenses.
Among the key proposals from CCC-11 were: updating cargo-securing manuals to include unified performance criteria for lashing software; enhancing container and securing equipment inspection protocols.
Refining stowage planning and operational procedures to mitigate container loss during severe weather; and advancing regulatory frameworks for vessels powered by alternative fuels.
These proposals are set to be submitted to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee for further review and potential ratification.
“The global conversation on container safety is not just technical – it has a direct bearing on the competitiveness of our traders and the safety of our maritime space,” Prof. Gyampo remarked on the sidelines of the meeting.
Through its active involvement in these international discussions, Ghana not only protects its commercial interests but also reinforces its standing as a pivotal force in West Africa’s maritime sector, with the GSA at the forefront.
