Ga direct naar: spotlights | search | Site-navigatie

Haven Amsterdam

Dangerous Goods & Environmental Control

Since 1 October 2008 the Dangerous Goods & Environmental Control team has functioned as part of the Department Supervision, Environment and Safety (TMV) department, which resides under the responsibility of the Maritime Department.

Dangerous Goods & Environmental Control team

The team conducts public-law tasks on behalf of the harbour master, both regionally and within the Municipality of Amsterdam, based on the mandate in the field of the Shipping Traffic Act, the Carriage of Dangerous Goods act, the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act and the Regulation on the port and inland waterways. On top of this, the team, will also answer any questions and provide information on behalf of the port’s internal and external customers.

Key tasks and fields of attention

The Port of Amsterdam Maritime Department’s mission is as follows: the safe, clean, secure and swift handling of shipping.. Based on this mission, the team has four key tasks/focal points:

Admission policy in the Central Nautical Management (CNB) region
The GS&M team is responsible for the Maritime Department’s operating area, namely: from 12 miles off the coast (incl. IJ channel) of IJmuiden to the Orange locks in Amsterdam ('CNB region') testing in relation to and developing the admission policy for the shipping traffic with toxic and hazardous substances on the North Sea Canal transport axis.
Port management (operational policy and inspection tasks)
In the Amsterdam management area, the team is also responsible for the operational policy development (converting strategic/tactical developments to operations) in the field. These are the port management tasks (the vessels lying in the port) concerning, among others, dangerous goods (hazardous and toxic substances), waste products and repairs to vessels.
Additionally, on behalf of the harbour master, the team conducts inspections on compliance with the regulations regarding the aforementioned port management tasks in Amsterdam. The hazardous substances inspectors have both administrative (supervision) and investigative powers to execute this task. With regard to inspections and operational policy, the GS&M team has an observing and advisory role towards the other port authorities within the area that falls under the central nautical management. As part of the Supervision Reform Program, this role will be further executed as regional coordinating supervisor. This means one step closer to achieving the goal of a single frontdesk for port management tasks in the Central Nautical Management region.
Execution of the Port Waste Plan (HAP)
The team is also responsible for the correct operational and financial implementation of statutory tasks relating to ship-generated waste and cargo residues for the entire CNB region.
Granting permits for specific activities
Based, among others, on the port regulations the team can grant permits for certain work/activities. In this the GS&M team will issue a notification. Examples work requiring a permit, include:

- - Ship-to-Ship transfer of dangerous goods
  - Ship-to-Ship transfer of dry bulk on buoys
  - Repairs
  - Immobilisation (a vessel that is incapable of moving independently)
  - Mooring outside the oil terminal area (see map of the oil terminal area)
    
    Vessels loaded with liquid hazardous substances with flash point below 60° Celsius and that want to dock, are not permitted to moor outside the oil terminal area. In certain cases, exemptions to this rule are granted. To ensure safety, security and environmental protection stringent rules apply in the oil terminal area, among others with regard to admission requirements for this area and the method used for mooring vessels.