International Vessel Operators Hazardous Materials Association, Inc. (VOHMA) changes name to International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association, Inc. (IVODGA) to Encompass Global Environment and Activities of the Association

The International Vessel Operators Hazardous Materials Association, Inc., otherwise known as VOHMA, announced that its name has officially changed to the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA). To illustrate the name change, a revised logo with the new name will now be used. As part of the VOHMA Strategic Planning process that began a couple of years ago, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee cited that the name International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA) more correctly reflects the global environment and activities of the association.

The International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA) is an international organization comprised of representatives of the ocean common carriers of the world, operating under the flags of several nations, dedicated to improving the understanding and uniform application of rules and regulations governing maritime Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Transportation, including the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Collectively, IVODGA members are responsible for the safe transportation of over 75% of the ocean borne container traffic in the US trades.

IVODGA's primary focus is to foster the safe handling of hazardous materials/dangerous goods, as well as to offer the expertise of the ocean carriers in forging regulatory development. IVODGA is an active participant and enjoys consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the UN Committee of Experts (UNCOE) on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. IVODGA actively comments on proposed regulations and is in frequent contact with the Department of Transportation's Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the US Coast Guard.

IVODGA offers public training courses, customized on-site, web-based, and online training (www.dgtrainingonline.com). IVODGA has designed a series of one and three day public hazardous materials training programs to enable shippers, consolidators, forwarders, carriers and all other hazardous materials/dangerous goods employees in the transportation industry to avail themselves of the best training available while meeting the training requirements of the US DOT. Registration is now open for the 2010 public training courses in March and October – http://www.ivodga.com/seminars.htm.

International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association

10 Hunter Brook Lane Queensbury, NY 12804
Phone: 518 761-0263  Fax: 518 792-7781
mail@ivodga.com  •  www.ivodga.com

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