BADGP News Blog

IMO have published their most recent Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB - March 2025). This is full of information for those that dabble in the Dangerous Goods by Sea world and contains a list of maritime incidents where the North Sea collision incident features quite heavily. BADGP members can sign up to receive the CABs when they are published - we get them via the ICHCA emails and as the IMO are happy for their CAB’s to be shared we thought this would be an ideal document to enlighten you to the world of the IMO. Access the document here.

BADGP is pleased to announce a face-to-face seminar on September 9th with the subject of Shipping Lithium Batteries. The seminar will be held in the Stratford Suite, Stratford Manor Hotel, Warwick Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0PY.

This seminar will host a wide range of exhibitors offering products that assist with the transportation and disposal of lithium cells and batteries. We are also assembling an exciting and varied lineup of speakers who will address some lesser-known aspects of shipping lithium batteries, including current considerations for classification changes, safe air transport, fire safety requirements, and guidelines for battery disposal and recycling.

The full list of speakers is being compiled and will be confirmed soon. Interest in this seminar is expected to be high, so we recommend registering as soon as possible.

Registration

Registration for the Seminar is available to both BADGP members (£95.00) and non-members (£140.00). Further information and registration can be found on the following page, Lithium Battery Seminar.

Exhibition & Sponsorship

As at previous events we will be hosting an exhibition of products and services of interest to our members. 

If you would like to exhibit please email your interest to enquiries@badgp.org to find out more. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about the event, please contact the BADGP Office (enquiries@badgp.org).

We have now published the April 2025 edition of our Newsletter. For more details, please visit: BADGP Newsletters.

This edition includes the following articles:

ALL CHANGE!
BADGP AGM 2025 saw the standing down of BADGP Chair, Mark Spence and the handing over the position to committee member Les Richings.

ALL ABOARD!
An update on the BADGP Committee members for 2025-2026.

THE RISE AND RISE OF LITHIUM BATTERIES (I’VE GOT THE POWER)
BADGP Chair-Elect, Les Richings discussed the increase in the use of Lithium Batteries.

POWER BANK SUSPECTED TO CAUSE FIRE IN AIR BUSAN JET
BADGP Committee member Dan Lee shares some thoughts about the latest lithium battery fire event that has occurred in a passenger aircraft in South Korea.

THE DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR ACCEPTANCE PROCESS
BADGP Chair-Elect, Les Richings provides some useful notes and direction on the recent IATA clarification document regarding spurious ‘snagging’ during IATA acceptance checks.

MOLTEN AND ELEVATED TEMPERATURE SUBSTANCES IN ADR
BADGP committee member Dan Lee explores the similar descriptive terms and discovers something the books don’t explain.

IMPROVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ADR SCHEME
Bob Hannigan, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency discusses the importance of integrity in dangerous goods driver examinations and the recent improvements that have been introduced.

THE ROLE OF DIGITALIZATION IN DG LOGISTICS – SMART TRACKING, AI-DRIVEN INSPECTIONS
BADGP member Amit Kumar, Bulk Tainer Logistics provides an insight into how digitalization is shaping the future of DG logistics, focusing on smart tracking, automated inspections, and blockchain-driven documentation.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ESSENTIALS FOR DG PROFESSIONALS
BADGP committee member Dan Lee outlines the basic health and safety knowledge that a DG professional needs to know if they are operating within the UK.

DGSA+
This article provides further information on the BADGP DGSA+ Programme.

BADGP AGM
A summary of the BADGP 2025 AGM, with plenty of photos from the event.

WHO ARE YOU?
BADGP are pleased to introduce you to some of the well-known ‘names’ in the industry, while they share a little information about themselves and their lives in dangerous goods. This month we introduce Jacob Sidebottom.

BADGP WEBINARS & EVENTS
Information regarding our upcoming events.

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Details of upcoming events from our Partner Organisation CHCS.

Rumour abounded last week that FedEx (UK) were requiring all transport documents submitted from consignors and freight forwarders  to fully comply with ADR 5.4.1.1.(f) Note 1 and provide details of the load as it relates to the transport category and single or mixed load calculations. BADGP have sought clarification from both FedEx(UK) and the competent authority as it has been understood that ‘Notes’ within ADR are provided for information and clarification but do not form part of the direction of the law. The HSE have confirmed that FedEx(UK) must comply with CDGTPE (ADR) and if they wish to add additional arrangements within the scope of ADR then that is their right to do so. 

BADGP therefore notifies all of its members and readers of this news alert that all future dealings with FedEx(UK) will require transport documents that fully comply with Note 1 of ADR 5.4.1.1.(f). This information should be added as part of the supplementary information to the required DG identifiers as stated at ADR 5.4.1.1. a,b,c,d,k. To date we know of no other carrier that is requiring full implementation of this particular ADR note. 

Company interpretations of ADR are not new - for example many carriers chose not to transport Class 1 and Class 7 goods owing to business insurance restrictions. BADGP are aware of another carrier that requires a signed transport document for UK mainland DG movements as part of the company DG policy.

All DG competent persons are reminded that full compliance of CDGTPE(ADR) is the required status - anything additional is accepted provided that it does not contradict the instructions within the aforementioned law not compromise the required safe transport risk controls.

The UK’s Maritime Accident Investigation Bureau (MAIB) have published an interim report on the Solong /Stena Immaculate collision last month. The report details the known facts at this time and show the course and position of the vessels prior to and at the time of the incident. The report also show bridge camera footage (three stills) from the Stena Immaculate which show the collision and more importantly the visibility available at the time. A full report will be made in due course. For those DG professionals who want to know how to write an incident report - this is a very good example. The facts are clearly stated and explained - no opinions or possible causes are mentioned.

This webinar will serve as an introduction and refresher to any person who consigns, sells, transports or uses lithium batteries as part of their work role.

It will address the key themes, terms and documentation that must be in place before any company decides to transport these items.

The webinar will serve as a pre-cursor to the BADGP Lithium Battery Seminar to be held on Tuesday 9^th September 2025 where attendees can learn more than just the basics of lithium battery transportation.

Our team of BADGP experts will cut through all the complex ’noise’ surrounding the shipment of lithium cells and batteries and enable attendees to focus on getting the basics right - without which - everything else that follows gets a bit messy.

Our Presenters

We are delighted to have as our presenters:

Beccy Ricketts, ADR Express Ltd and BADGP Committee
Beccy has been working in the transport industry for more than 25 years, starting her career in the Irish Freight market. In 2002, she set up her own light haulage transport company specialising in the express carriage of dangerous goods, servicing the commercial industry and public sectors. Initially transporting dangerous goods within the United Kingdom, this has expanded into the world-wide movement of dangerous goods.

Beccy became a DGSA in 2008 which enabled her to offer an additional service to her existing client base as well as expanding the consultancy services as a DGSA to new clients.

Oliver Fairbrother, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Ltd and BADGP Committee
Oliver started his career in logistics in 2019, dealing predominantly with the worldwide express movement of parcels. From there he moved to his current company in 2021, swapping the movement of parcels for pallet loads of goods, originally working within the road freight customer service and sales team. Qualifying as a DGSA in 2023, Oliver now oversees all dangerous goods movements within his organisation across road, sea and air ensuring compliance is achieved both within the organisation and with the customers it serves.

Registration & Costs

Attendance at the webinar is free to BADGP members and non-members.

Members of CHCS can also register free-of-charge (please see link).

To register for the webinar please complete the online form at https://badgp.org/event-5914034.

After registering we will send you an email explaining how to join and run the webinar.

Non-members can Join BADGP, (membership is just £85.00 for 1 year).

Questions? Please contact: enquiries@badgp.org

BADGP Newsletter Contributions - Deadlines For 2025 Editions

• April Newsletter, deadline for article contributions, 31st March 2025
• June Newsletter, deadline for article contributions, 2nd June 2025
• September Newsletter, deadline for article contributions, 1st September 2025
• December Newsletter, deadline for article contributions, 1st December 2025

We accept articles from members and non-members, wherever you are in the World. 

You can find out more on our BADGP Newsletter web page and send your contributions to enquiries@badgp.org. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions!

We are delighted to announce that we have published the slides and recording of our webinar, "Changes to IMDG & IATA" 

Presented by:

BADGP members can access the content from the link on the Past Events page of this website.

Attention all UK organisations and businesses using DG by Air training.

The UK’s CAA has put out an email last week asking for any information relating to requests that are received from external parties to direct you to have only IATA DG by Air training certificates that have the valid IATA QR code printed thereon. 

There appears to be some issue in the USA that may spill over to the UK. The UK’s CAA are keen to nip this spill over potential in the bud and ask for notification should any approach be made to convince you to use certified IATA trainers and training providers only for DG by Air training compliance needs. The UK’s CAA directs and controls DG by Air training in the UK - not IATA.

If you are not comfortable contacting the DGO at UK’s CAA let us at BADGP know and we will use our channels to pass on the information.

We have changed the date of the BADGP 2025 AGM from 27th March 2025 to the 20th March 2025.

We were informed last week that the original date clashed with the Joint Meeting meaning very few, if any, of our colleagues from the DfT/VCA etc would be able to attend.

The BADGP committee greatly value their attendance at the AGM, and feel that the members opportunity to, 'meet the regulators' is important.

Fortunately, the hotel was able to accommodate the change in date and we are hoping that you will still be able to join us. Please ensure you register for the event using the link below.

Register now