Decree concerning a ban on the degassing of berthed inland tankships for benzene and specific products containing more than 10% benzene

The Harbour Master of Amsterdam, announces the following:

As of March 1st, 2017 a ban of degassing for benzene and specific products containing more than 10% benzene will be in force for inland tankships that are underway. This ban is laid down in the Provinciale Milieuverordening Noord-Holland (Provincial Environmental bye-law of North Holland). For the degassing of berthed inland tankships rules are laid down in the ADN[1] and the HrN[2]. When a tankship is berthed degassing of the products listed below is not prohibited. This causes a gap (for the products listed below) between the degassing of tankships that are underway and berthed tankships. The Harbour Master considers this undesirable. For this reason a ban on degassing for the products listed below is imposed for berthed tankships. This ban will be in force in the municipalities Amsterdam, Beverwijk and Velsen as of March 1st, 2017. When this ban will be in force in the municipality of Velsen[3] is unknown.

Degassing into the atmosphere of certain (volatile) organic compounds from tankships can cause environmental and health nuisance. To prevent environmental pollution by degassing from the products listed below a ban on degassing for inland tankships that are underway is laid down in the Provinciale Milieuverordening Noord-Holland (Provincial Environmental bye-law of North Holland). This ban will be in force as of March 1st, 2017. The Harbour Master of Amsterdam aims a similar regulation with the Provinciale Milieuverordening Noord-Holland (Provincial Environmental bye-law of North Holland) for berthed inland tankships. As a result, it is necessary to set a ban on degassing by berthed inland tankships for the products listed below in order to avoid environmental and health nuisance.

Products covered by this ban are:

• benzene (UN-number 1114);
• petroleum crude oil with more than 10% benzene (UN-number 1267);
• petroleum distillates N.O.S. or petroleum products with more than 10% benzene (UN-number 1268);
• fuel, aviation, turbine engine with more than 10% benzene (UN-number1863);
• flammable liquid, N.O.S. with more than 10% benzene (UN-number 1993); or
• hydrocarbons, liquid, N.O.S. with more than 10% benzene (UN-number 3295),

The relevant decree (in English or German language) can be obtained from the Harbour Master. The decree in English text can be found on portofamsterdam.com.

The director Centraal Nautisch Beheer Noordzeekanaalgebied (Central Nautical Management Noordzeekanaal Area)

M.F. van de Kerkhof

[1] ADN= Europees Verdrag inzake het internationaal vervoer van gevaarlijke stoffen over de binnenwateren (European Agreement concerning the international Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways)

[2] Havenreglement Noordzeekanaalgebied 2012 (Port Regulations for the Noordzeekanaalgebied 2012)

[3] The director Centraal Nautisch Beheer Noordzeekanaalgebied (Central Nautical Management Noordzeekanaal Area) is mandated for the municipalities Beverwijk and Velsen but not fort he municipality of Velsen.