The poor packing of containers is responsible for two-thirds of cargo accidents.

This is according to analysis carried out by TT Club. It warned that the loss to the shipping industry due to this problem is substantial, as it results in direct expense, disruption to the operation and litigation and insurance costs.

It did acknowledge, however, that the process of shipping and handling cargo is so complex that it is often difficult to pinpoint exactly where liability lies if an incident ocurrs, even if poor packaging is suspected.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, risk management director at TT Club, advised that the consequences of inadequate packing were extremely serious. He added: "It is important to take account not only of financial losses but also in too many cases serious bodily injury to operators, and even death."

TT Club called for more training and a greater level of expertise in the transport sector to ensure this practice is curtailed.