TT Club Handbook Helps Minimise Windstorm Damage

3 August 2009

Introducing the new edition, TT Club Deputy Chairman and CEO of Virginia International Terminals Inc, Joe Dorto, writes: “By virtue of their location, ports and terminals are particularly vulnerable, with all kinds of harbour installations at risk from the enormous forces of nature unleashed in a storm”.

This year has already seen several serious storms in the Pacific and western Australia, and areas including Idaho, USA and the coast of Mexico have been battered by wind storms and hurricanes, causing substantial damage. The TT Club guide, entitled ‘WindStorm II’ provides terminal operators with detailed advice on how to protect their infrastructure from windstorm damage, as well as how to recover afterwards.

“With storm damage accounting for some of the biggest losses in the industry, the Club is committed to assisting operators in managing risk and to help prevent loss; the responsibility of a mutual insurer such as TT extends to more than just picking up the bill”, comments TT Club’s Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox. “In this guide, we have brought together the shared knowledge and experience of operators and experts in managing storm damage, and have particularly valued the collaboration with the International Safety Panel of ICHCA International. We believe that the result provides a practical loss-prevention plan which benefits the marine and inland terminal industry and demonstrates both the ethos and the advantages of being a mutual insurer.”

In its first section, the guide identifies different types of storms around the globe, and looks at the specific risks they pose to marine and inland terminals. It goes on to examine modern methods of forecasting, and indicates where to obtain local information warning of impending storms. This has proved to be of significance, since access to information relevant to operations is not always available.

Key advice in this guide, which is part of the Club’s ‘Stop Loss’ series relates to the generally applicable practice of creating and implementing an emergency plan, aligned here to storm risks. In this section, there is also recognition of the interface and interaction with others in the neighbouring area, including law enforcement and emergency services.

The central sections deal with action to be taken immediately before a storm strikes and how to minimise damage during a storm. It also looks at specific items of terminal equipment, and the risks storms pose to them, and offers practical advice on steps that can be taken to best secure them against storm damage.

The guide is supplemented by extensive annexes, including detailed information on the different wind scales in use around the world, information sources and a storm miscellany. Finally, there are practical checklists for routine operations, recovery after a storm event and emergency planning.

The guide comes both in printed form, and in a web-based version, the latter providing links to more detailed information. It will be distributed free to Members of the TT Club, and can be purchased by non-members at £36 through the TT Club website www.ttclub.com.

TT Club
The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry's leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. Established in 1968, the Club's membership comprises ship operators, ports and terminals, road, rail and airfreight operators, logistics companies and container lessors. As a mutual insurer, the Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice. www.ttclub.com

TT Club, press release