In a pivotal gathering in Rotterdam, experts from the global container shipping industry, biosecurity, and plant health sectors convened to address a pressing issue: the annual $423 billion cost of invasive pests. At the heart of the discussions was the urgent need for pest-resistant container designs to mitigate the risks posed by these pests in the global supply chain.

The International Symposium on Optimizing Container Design to Mitigate Risks of Pest Contamination brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from major shipping carriers, leasing companies, container manufacturers, and biosecurity experts. The focus of the symposium was clear—traditional container design, which has prioritized production efficiency and durability, must evolve to incorporate pest resistance.

Mike Downes, Senior Technical Expert at the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and Chair of the Container Cleanliness Industry Advisory Group supporting the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) Sea Container Focus Group (SCFG), emphasized the need for a new approach: “By rethinking container design, we can mitigate the risks of invasive species and safeguard biodiversity, forests, and global food supplies.”

A highlight of the event was the presentation of a groundbreaking study conducted by the Australian government. This research compared standard containers with modified designs and found that while 8% of standard containers showed signs of pest contamination, the rate dropped significantly to just 1.45% in modified units. The findings demonstrate the promise of design modifications in reducing pest risks.

Rama Karri, Director at the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, noted that data from multiple countries revealed that approximately 90% of pest contamination on the external surfaces of sea containers was linked to understructures, with internal contamination primarily associated with floorboards.

The symposium explored practical container modifications, including floor designs that eliminate gaps and cracks, understructures with fewer horizontal ledge configurations, and the removal of bitumastic under-coatings. These adjustments aim to create a less inviting environment for pests while maintaining the containers’ functionality and cost-effectiveness.

In the final stages of the event, a working group was established, comprising major container owners, operators, and manufacturers. The group will focus on advancing the most promising design ideas and will present proposals for container design modifications to the IPPC’s SCFG and, ultimately, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which oversees the IPPC’s container cleanliness initiatives.

Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President of the World Shipping Council, underscored the importance of collaboration in tackling this critical issue: “This is a critical societal issue, and collaborative efforts like this symposium are helping broaden our industry’s recognition of the problem and strengthen its commitment to accelerate efforts to create a pest-resistant supply chain.”

The symposium, held on November 11, 2024, was organized by the IPPC Secretariat in partnership with BIC, the Container Owners Association (COA), and the World Shipping Council (WSC), marking a significant step towards addressing the global challenge of pest contamination in shipping.