Front Cover May - WorldCargo News Online

HAZCHEM TRANSPORT
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requirements of the chemical producers.
Service quality amongst the LSPs is
variable and the skills necessary for proper
contract tendering are often missing.
Horváth said that the EU enlargement
process will serve to boost the efficiency
of his country’s freight transport sector.
Safety advisors
European regulations require companies
involved in the transport and handling of
dangerous goods to appoint dangerous
goods safety advisers (DGSAs). Amongst
other obligations, DGSAs draft procedures
that incorporate lessons learned and
promote a continuous improvement in
the safety, health and environmental performance
of their company. The DGSA
regulations entered into force in Hungary
on January 1, 2003, two years after
the relevant Directive was implemented
in Western Europe.
Marianna Csuhay of the Hungarian
Ministry of Economy & Transport explained
to EPCA delegates that another
key role of DGSAs is to help their companies
understand and comply with a
complex and expanding set of controls
governing the handling and transport of
dangerous goods in Europe. This is an
important function in Hungary and other
Eastern European countries.
Hungarian DGSA regulations include
a provision specific to the country, namely
that DGSAs inform the Central Office
for Statistics (KSH) of all dangerous goods
shipments handled by their firm. A total
of 260 Hungarian companies have notified
the competent authority that they
use DGSAs while there are 180 registered
advisers in the country.
“To date, the main problem for our
ministry in implementing the DGSA requirements
has been the loose interpretation
that some companies place on the
escape clause included in the EC Directive
in order to obviate themselves of any
responsibility, ” Csuhay said. “The clause
states that companies not engaged in dangerous
goods handling as their main or
secondary activity, but are just involved
with such cargoes occasionally, are exempt
from the need to have a DGSA.”
Csuhay finished on a bright note,
pointing out that Hungarian DGSAs are
enthusiastic and committed to their responsibilities.
They have already formed
two industry associations, the presence of
which will no doubt facilitate implementation
of DGSA legislation in Hungary.
mental groups and regulatory bodies in
order to ensure that the chemical industry
is fairly and accurately represented.”
Borsodchem applies best available
technology (BAT) and uses skilled staff
for logistics operations on its premises in
order to prevent transport accidents. It also
maintains strict criteria which govern its
choice of LSP and ensures an open exchange
of all relevant information with
those LSPs that are chosen.
“For the country as a whole to achieve
continuous improvement in chemical
accident prevention, more rigorous application
of Responsible Care requirements
will be needed,” said Varga. ”This
translates into improving skill levels, preparing
internal procedures, establishing
benchmarks, carrying out the necessary
training and using BAT.” ❏
Hoyer helps Huntsman
through Russian winters
Huntsman Polyurethanes in the Netherlands
has chosen Hoyer as one of its
preferred logistics suppliers due to the
transport operator’s ability to meet the
challenges posed by a contract to move
large volumes of MDI, one of its hazardous,
temperature-sensitive products,
to difficult markets like Russia.
MDI is a chemical used in the manufacture
of polyurethanes and, at the point
of delivery to the customer, must have a
temperature of no less than 23degC. This
poses difficulties in the harsh Russian winters
when ambient temperatures remain
well below freezing for long periods.
Huntsman has worked with Hoyer in
the past and is aware of the operator’s
ability to maintain close control of the
temperatures of the products carried by
its road tankers and tank containers
through the use of super-insulated tanks
and onboard gensets.
Hoyer is also a pan-European logistics
service provider with an extensive
Eastern European network of customers
and depots as well as a full portfolio
of transport equipment. Familiarity with
the region extends to knowledge and
experience with the various alternative
transport routes to and from Huntsman
customers in Russia.
Notwithstanding all the arrangements
taken to prevent accidents from
occurring in the first place, MDI still
poses a flammability risk, which must
be taken into account, especially as there
may be a lack of adequate firefighting
resources on many parts of the transport
routes. In this case Hoyer and
Huntsman have adopted structural solutions
wherever possible in order to
avoid the risk of a fire and the need for
firefighting. ❏
Ready for emergencies
Another speaker from MAVESZ, Gyula
Pogány, told delegates about VERIK, the
Hungarian chemical industry’s emergency
response and information system and part
of the European International Chemical
Environment (ICE) response network.
Although VERIK was formally
launched in 1996, it is only in the last
two years that it has begun to function as
a nationwide system. In 2002 some 293
incidents involving dangerous goods and
of varying degrees of magnitude were
reported through the system, including
85 transport-related incidents. Of the latter,
67 per cent involved petroleum products,
12 per cent acids and alkalis, 14 per
cent alcohols and 2 per cent peroxides.
Based at the MOL Danube refinery,
VERIK is still in its infancy and needs further
promotion, Pogány said. Seven domestic
chemical companies have said they will
support the scheme, but Hungary’s emergency
authorities have not yet given formal
recognition to the initiative. MAVESZ
needs to reconsider some aspects of the
scheme, including the possibility of some
local satellite VERIK centres.
More Care
Bela Varga of Borsodchem provided a
viewpoint from an individual chemical
manufacturer. Specialising in chlorinebased
plastics materials, Borsodchem is the
largest manufacturer of PVC in the 10
CEEC nations, the sole producer of MDI
in Hungary and the biggest producer of
TDI in the country. It is also one of the
original signatories of the Responsible
Care initiative in Hungary.
“People in Hungary continue to be
anxious about the proximity of chemical
production plants to their homes,” said
Varga, “and MAVESZ members need to
strengthen communications links with
their LSPs, local communities, environ-
May 2003 53