. Container issues During the year ICS has been involved in the monitoring of depot audit trials in the port of Antwerp, the aim being to simplify the process of taking leased containers on and off-hire and thereby reduce unnecessary costs. The trials were successful in identifying a number of areas where improvements could be made. The hope is that by co-ordinating shipping company and lessor container inspection criteria, many grey areas will be eliminated. Improved training of depot repair estimators and more standardisation of repair methods should also improve efficiencies. ICS and the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) plan to extend the trials in 1999 to include new port areas. Work will also continue with a view to developing a set of unified shipping line 'in service' inspection and repair criteria. .