[DRAFT] Standards For International Freight

[Ostrovskiy]

4 days prior
Alga Veshnikova woke up unexpectedly. "Where- where am I? This doesn't look like the Three-Walled Bar!" She looked up and around the vast, loud room she was in, and her eyes stumbled across an inconspicuous plaque. The Stranger's Bar, it proclaimed. "Oh, for the love of God. I'm in the wrong building! What am I doing here? I have representatives to convince!" Reluctantly sitting up, Alga ordered a cup of coffee. Hey, you've always been curious about the GA! Now's your chance!, she thought to herself, and decided that, maybe, she could stay a little while. After finishing the cup, she walked to the room of the Ostrovskian delegation, which had (as far as she could recall), never been used, and started writing.

OOC: Character count is 2030

The World Assembly,

Recalling the importance of international freight, which plays a critical role in the multiversal economy, and allows goods to be transported across borders and connect all corners of the multiverse,

Noting that the diversity of national standards and regulations, that are related to freight, can create barriers to trade, and increase costs for businesses,

Hereby:

• Defines:
  
  1. “Freight Transport” as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
     
  2. “Personnel” as individuals involved in the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,
• Encourages the optimisation of transport operations and logistics, by the use of intermodal and multimodal transport, as well as the reduction of empty runs and waiting times.
  
• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss or damage in the transport of goods when the above was preventable without causing other loss or damage, costing the carrier more than twice the worth of the package, or jeopardising the safety of any natural person,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and that carriers may not provide false or out-of-date information to either the shipper or the recipient about their services,
  
• Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and the measurements of the International Measurements Institute, with transparency about what and how much is being transported if identification is reasonably needed,
  
• Requires that utmost care be taken with the handling and transport of dangerous, fragile, perishable, or other such goods, which must be labeled as such and treated as their description pertains.

The World Assembly,

Recalling the importance of international freight, which plays a critical role in the multiversal economy, and allows goods to be transported across borders and connect all corners of the multiverse,

Noting that the diversity of national standards and regulations, that are related to freight, can create barriers to trade, and increase costs for businesses,

Hereby:

• Defines:
  
  1. “Freight Transport” as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
     
  2. “Personnel” as individuals involved in the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,
• Encourages the optimisation of transport operations and logistics, by the use of intermodal and multimodal transport, as well as the reduction of empty runs and waiting times.
  
• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss, damage or delay in the transport of goods when the actions to avoid the above would have been reasonable,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and that carriers may not provide false or out-of-date information to either the shipper or the recipient about their services,
  
• Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and the measurements of the International Measurements Institute, with transparency about what and how much is being transported if identification is reasonably needed,
  
• Requires that utmost care be taken with the handling and transport of dangerous, fragile, perishable, or other such goods, which must be labeled as such and treated as their description pertains.

Standards for International Freight
Category: Regulation Area of Effect: Transportation


Coauthors: CSB PM Union, Millenhaal

The World Assembly,

Recalling the importance of international freight, which plays a critical role in the multiversal economy, and allows goods to be transported across borders and connect all corners of the multiverse,

Noting that the diversity of national standards and regulations, that are related to freight, can create barriers to trade, and increase costs for businesses,

Hereby:

• Defines:
  
  1. “Freight Transport” as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
     
  2. “Personnel” as individuals involved in the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,
• Encourages the optimisation of transport operations and logistics, by the use of intermodal and multimodal transport, as well as the reduction of empty runs and waiting times.
  
• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss, damage or delay in the transport of goods when the actions to avoid the above would have been reasonable,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and that carriers may not provide false or out-of-date information to either the shipper or the recipient about their services,
  
• Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and the measurements of the International Measurements Institute, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics, when it does not pertain to confidential information of one or more of the member states where the freight transport will occur,
  
• Requires that utmost care be taken with the handling and transport of dangerous, fragile, perishable, or other such goods, which must be labeled as such and treated as their description pertains.

Standards for International Freight
Category: Regulation Area of Effect: Transportation

The World Assembly,

Recalling the importance of international freight, which plays a critical role in the multiversal economy, and allows goods to be transported across borders and connect all corners of the multiverse,

Noting that the diversity of national standards and regulations, that are related to freight, can create barriers to trade, and increase costs for businesses,


Hereby:

• Defines:
  
  1. “Freight Transport” as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
     
  2. “Personnel” as individuals involved in the carriage of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,
• Encourages the optimisation of transport operations and logistics, by the use of intermodal and multimodal transport, as well as the reduction of empty runs and waiting times.
  
• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss, damage or delay in the transport of goods,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and provide accurate and up-to-date information to shippers and the recipient,
  
• Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and measurements, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics,
  
• Requires that utmost care be taken with the handling and transport of dangerous, fragile, perishable, or other such goods, which must be labeled as such and treated as their description pertains,
• Enforces that all drivers and operators of freight transport vehicles must be of legal age and have the license to operate said vehicles in the nations which the freight transport will occur in to continue to engage in international freight.

Coauthors: CSB PM Union, Millenhaal

[Ostrovskiy]

/bump

[Wallenburg]

• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss, damage or delay in the transport of goods,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and provide accurate and up-to-date information to shippers and the recipient,

"How far does this carrier liability extend? There are plenty of edge cases that carriers can't possibly take action to avoid apart from never carrying anything. Another concern here is that this is not limited to international freight; these sections apply to all transport of goods by all modes, foreign and domestic."

Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and measurements, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics,

"Military resources, including state secrets, are routinely transported by train. 'Complete transparency about what is being transported' is an unconscionable security hazard."

[The Ice States]

"We, of course, welcome the Ostrovskian mission to the snakepit. This is well-written for a first draft, but still needs work on it before it is submitted. We find ourselves largely agreeing with the Wallenburgian mission, and also have our own feedback on this draft."

provide accurate and up-to-date information to shippers and the recipient,

"What kind of accurate and up-to-date information has to be provided? Does this mean instead that carriers may not provide false information vis-a-vis their services? If so, this ought to be explicitly stated."

Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and measurements, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics,

"Requiring IMI units in particular to be used would be beneficial, although your missions should ensure that this does not fall afoul of the House of Cards regulation enforced by the Secretariat."

Enforces that all drivers and operators of freight transport vehicles must be of legal age and have the license to operate said vehicles in the nations which the freight transport will occur in to continue to engage in international freight.

"What does this achieve that rational member nation policy, ie prohibiting those legally underage to drive from driving, does not?"

~Alexander Nicholas Saverchenko-Colleti,
World Assembly Ambassador,
The Communal Union of the Ice States.

[Ostrovskiy]

• Enforces the liability of the carrier for loss, damage or delay in the transport of goods,
  
• Mandates that all carriers exercise due diligence to protect their cargo and avoid possible damages to the property of others, and provide accurate and up-to-date information to shippers and the recipient,

"How far does this carrier liability extend? There are plenty of edge cases that carriers can't possibly take action to avoid apart from never carrying anything. Another concern here is that this is not limited to international freight; these sections apply to all transport of goods by all modes, foreign and domestic."

"We have rewritten the clause to establish that carriers must do so when it is reasonable."

Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and measurements, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics,

"Military resources, including state secrets, are routinely transported by train. 'Complete transparency about what is being transported' is an unconscionable security hazard."

"Also rewritten."

"We, of course, welcome the Ostrovskian mission to the snakepit. This is well-written for a first draft, but still needs work on it before it is submitted. We find ourselves largely agreeing with the Wallenburgian mission, and also have our own feedback on this draft."

provide accurate and up-to-date information to shippers and the recipient,

"What kind of accurate and up-to-date information has to be provided? Does this mean instead that carriers may not provide false information vis-a-vis their services? If so, this ought to be explicitly stated."

"Now explicitly stated!"

Instructs all involved with freight transport to ensure measurement of characteristics of goods and their labeling accordingly, by the usage of multinationally standardized symbols and measurements, with complete transparency about what is being transported, how much, and other relevant characteristics,

"Requiring IMI units in particular to be used would be beneficial, although your missions should ensure that this does not fall afoul of the House of Cards regulation enforced by the Secretariat."

"Added. I believe committees still exist and can be referenced even if their creator resolution has been repealed, as long as they are used in another resolution?"

Enforces that all drivers and operators of freight transport vehicles must be of legal age and have the license to operate said vehicles in the nations which the freight transport will occur in to continue to engage in international freight.

"What does this achieve that rational member nation policy, ie prohibiting those legally underage to drive from driving, does not?"

"The clause has been removed accordingly."

Alga Veshnikova
Pocol (Ambassador) of Ostrovskiy to the World Assembly

[Araraukar]

"Freight Transport" as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
“Personnel” as individuals involved in the carriage of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,

OOC: One thing that immediately caught my attention: the underlined bits should probably be made to match, given definition wordings are pretty important.

[Ostrovskiy]

"Freight Transport" as the movement of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, rail, road, sea and air,
“Personnel” as individuals involved in the carriage of goods by any mode of transport, including but not limited to, drivers, pilots, seafarers, terminal operators, freight forwarders and customs officers,

OOC: One thing that immediately caught my attention: the underlined bits should probably be made to match, given definition wordings are pretty important.

OOC: ^_^ Thank you, I've changed it both to movement of goods!

[The Ice States]

"Now explicitly stated!"

"Our concern appears not to have been addressed by this change in wording."

"Added. I believe committees still exist and can be referenced even if their creator resolution has been repealed, as long as they are used in another resolution?"

"That is correct; although defunct committees can be revived through the assignment of new duties."

~Alexander Nicholas Saverchenko-Colleti,
World Assembly Ambassador,
The Communal Union of the Ice States.

[Ostrovskiy]

"Now explicitly stated!"

"Our concern appears not to have been addressed by this change in wording."

"We have once again rewritten the clause in question to reflect the concerns of your delegation."

Alga Veshnikova
Pocol (Ambassador) of Ostrovskiy to the World Assembly

[The Ice States]

"Our concern appears not to have been addressed by this change in wording."

"We have once again rewritten the clause in question to reflect the concerns of your delegation."

Alga Veshnikova
Pocol (Ambassador) of Ostrovskiy to the World Assembly

"Yes, the latest draft addresses our concerns."

~Alexander Nicholas Saverchenko-Colleti,
World Assembly Ambassador,
The Communal Union of the Ice States.

[Wallenburg]

OOC: My apologies for harping on the same point from a different angle, but it struck me that state confidentiality is hardly the only reason to keep the contents of stored goods secret. I don't think mailed checks would count as "freight transport" here, but certainly medicine, adult paraphernalia, and expensive luxury items would be and there is good cause to obfuscate the nature of these goods during transport (typically shaming, tampering, or theft). For instance, I wouldn't want to buy STD meds and have the person at the delivery counter know intimate details of my life, nor would I want to order an expensive graphics card and have anyone remotely tech-savvy along the delivery line decide that it should fall off the back of a truck.

I guess my central issue is this: what does transparency about the contents of a package achieve? If we're talking about 34,000 gallons of potassium cyanide, I certainly see the need for prompt identification, but the language of this proposal requires quite broad and deep transparency about matters that simply are not relevant to anyone but the deliverer and recipient.

[Ostrovskiy]

OOC: My apologies for harping on the same point from a different angle, but it struck me that state confidentiality is hardly the only reason to keep the contents of stored goods secret. I don't think mailed checks would count as "freight transport" here, but certainly medicine, adult paraphernalia, and expensive luxury items would be and there is good cause to obfuscate the nature of these goods during transport (typically shaming, tampering, or theft). For instance, I wouldn't want to buy STD meds and have the person at the delivery counter know intimate details of my life, nor would I want to order an expensive graphics card and have anyone remotely tech-savvy along the delivery line decide that it should fall off the back of a truck.

I guess my central issue is this: what does transparency about the contents of a package achieve? If we're talking about 34,000 gallons of potassium cyanide, I certainly see the need for prompt identification, but the language of this proposal requires quite broad and deep transparency about matters that simply are not relevant to anyone but the deliverer and recipient.

OOC: I've tried to rewrite it so identification is given if it's reasonable.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Can you clean up your OP such that it's clear where your draft text starts and ends? I think I know but I'd want clarification; at the point I'd ask for it, I may as well as for a general clearing of it.

[Ostrovskiy]

Can you clean up your OP such that it's clear where your draft text starts and ends? I think I know but I'd want clarification; at the point I'd ask for it, I may as well as for a general clearing of it.

Did i forget to add the quote after i updated for the last draft? I did, didn't I? checks

Yep. Fixed.

[Simone Republic]

As mentioned on Discord, the compensation of cargo in maritime in real life is completely different to what is planned here.

Due to the laws of general average (this dates from Code of Hammurabi, so 3,700 odd years ago), if a ship is in danger and general average is declared by the captain (or these days, usually the ship management company), if you toss a couple of hundred containers or boxes or whatever into the ocean to try to save the ship, the loss goes to *everyone* who carries the cargo, not just the owner of that particular piece of cargo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_average

The most famous recent example is Ever Given in the Suez Canal where of course everyone had to eat the loss via general average for being an overnight Internet meme.

Suggest to cut the seafaring and air bits and stick to land cargo. Land based cargo is more straight forward in terms of liabilities because whoever is the shipper (there's usually only a single one) and the compensation is more straight forward. If a railway (railroad in the US) operator spills toxic waste in the middle of a town, the rail operator is clearly responsible. If a FedEx truck and a UPS truck crash and some cargo is lost, it should be clear which piece of cargo is damaged and whose loss it is.

Marine cargo doesn't work like this.