The Tank Container Association (TCA) has agreed to merge with the International Tank Container Organization (ITCO), according to officials with both groups.
“As of May 20, there was a unanimous vote from all the TCA voting members to merge to the two organizations,” says Robert Nicholson, TCA chairman. “ITCO will retain a TCA office in the United States to coordinate regulatory issues with the ITCO technical secretary (newly appointed Jack Hopkins) and to develop and manage the fall tank container conference. This merger will greatly improve our industry's technical and regulatory oversight on global governmental and legislative issues that impact our business. It will also make promoting our common interests much easier.”
“There is no doubt that with this move, the tank container industry shows that it has matured and will be in a stronger position to promote the industry better and to help regulatory bodies in their work of dangerous goods transport legislation and harmonization,” says Willy Freson, ITCO secretary.
The group is expected to hold its first joint conference the first week in October. Date and location will be announced later, Nicholson says.