DFDS becomes the first-ever maritime member of RSSB

DFDS Seaways Immingham has been welcomed to rail industry body RSSB as its first-ever shipping company member.

The company’s freight shipping, warehousing and logistics operation at Immingham sits on a 175 acre, rail connected site with 520 employees and 10 warehouses. It operates 35 weekly sailings.

Andrew Byrne, managing director of DFDS Seaways Immingham, explained why the company had decided to join a traditionally rail based safety organisation: “DFDS has introduced a new safety management system and a safety culture programme across the business that was developed and implemented at Immingham.

“We considered which industry to use to benchmark ourselves against, and the rail industry is one that has many similarities to the port industries. RSSB can help us to create a wider safety network outside of our traditional industry partners which will help us to see different perspectives and share and learn best practices.

“We know RSSB is traditionally rail focussed, but there is a mutual appreciation that creating a safety culture and using best processes to create a safer workplace is something that everyone is aiming at, regardless of the traditional industry the organisation supports.”

As part of its RSSB affiliation the company will be able to access a comprehensive resource library, along with world class training on human behaviours, safety culture developments and safety processes and practices.

Paul McLaughlin, Business Development and Engagement Director at RSSB said: “We’re delighted to welcome DFDS as an affiliate, strengthening the bonds between both rail and maritime sectors. Rail freight carries more than £30billion of goods around Britain each year, and almost half of this is domestic intermodal freight to and from ports.

“As well as supporting the country during the pandemic, each freight train takes about 76 HGVs off the roads. So much of what we’ve learned and accumulated in the rail sector is also relevant to other safety critical industries and transport modes both in the UK and overseas, and we look forward to supporting DFDS now and in the future.”

RSSB brings industry together to deliver expertise, solve complex issues and provide the headspace for collaboration, all leading to a better, safer railway.

As a membership-based rail industry body, RSSB includes train and freight operating companies, infrastructure managers, contractors, rolling stock leasing companies and suppliers, and its work involves partnerships and affiliation with academia, government, and many other railways, organisations and sectors across the world.

Photo credit: DFDS

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