Prohibition on degassing while underway for inland tankers
On this page you can find information about alternatives for degassing, ventilation, permits and links to national laws about degassing.
Alternatives for degassing
The following alternatives for degassing and ventilation are available:
- Dedicated transport. This is the case when an inland tanker is loaded with the same kind of cargo, thereby - in principle - eliminating the need for degassing.
- Compatible transport. This is the case when an inland tanker's new cargo is compatible with its previous cargo, thereby - in principle - eliminating the need for degassing. With compatible transport, the previous cargo's residual cargo vapours do not negatively affect the quality of the new cargo.
- Degassing by means of a degassing installation which processes the vapours in a responsible way. Vapour processing facilities may apply for an exemption with the Omgevingsdienst Noordzeekanaalgebied - OD NZKG (Environment Agency North Sea Canal Area) to operate as a commercial degassing installation not located at an establishment but, for instance, at a public quay. Port of Amsterdam is committed to providing locations for mobile degassing installations.
Permit
In addittion to a permit for a mobile degassing facility from the Omgevingsdienst Noordzeekanaalgebied - OD NZKG (Environment Agency North Sea Canal Area) also an operational permit is required based on the Regional Port Bye-laws for the North Sea Canal Area 2023 (RHN 2023). The RHN 2023 requires that a mobile degassing facility may only receive vapours from a tanker's cargo residues if it has a permit from the Municipal Executive. This permit can be applied for digitally at the Port Office by sending an email to portoffice@portofamsterdam.com
More information
More information about degassing of inland tankers and the national prohibition about degassing while underway can be found here (links in Dutch):