Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

THE NEXT STEPS 137
could require implementation only at the national level by the Member Countries with assistance from
the MRC.
Some of the recommendations are only specific to the five components of the risk analysis, particularly
ports/terminals and vessels. A number of prevention and mitigation measures were recommended for
the operators of ports, terminals and vessels. These recommendations can be implemented by private
companies or authorities responsible for management of ports and vessels. The MRC and the Member
Countries must also consider how the national line agencies responsible for the overall management of
ports and inland navigation can ensure the institutional capacity and technical standards or guidelines
can be enhanced to ensure effective monitoring and compliance. These recommendations in Volume
II will be integrated into Phase 2: Regional Master Plan for Sustainable Management of Dangerous
Goods.
7.2 REGIONAL MASTER PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
OF DANGEROUS GOODS
The Regional Master Plan for the Sustainable Management of Dangerous Goods project will require the
development of a detailed strategy and implementation plan for the Member Countries to manage and
control the risks associated with the transport of dangerous goods in the LMB. The overall objective
of the Navigation Programme is "to increase the efficiency of domestic and cross-border waterborne
transport in the Lower Mekong Basin, by reducing the risks for accidents in ports, on the vessels and
on the waterways so that the ecological health of the river, which is the basis for food security and
livelihoods, is not compromised by shipping activities, operations and developments."
The implementation strategy will contribute to reducing the risks for accidents in ports, on vessels and
waterways and for prevention management of oil spills and pollution from navigation activities. Phase
2 will require the development of a detailed implementation strategy and regional and national project
plans to manage and control the risks identified with the transport of dangerous goods (Phase 1). Figure
20 below illustrates how the outputs from Phase 1 will be used to move towards implementation.
The implementation strategy will need to determine to what extent international, national and/or
local action plans are needed and to take in to consideration the current institutional capacity and
levels of socio-economic development in the Lower Mekong Basin. An implementation strategy and
action plans will be developed, detailing the short, medium and long term actions, costs and resources
required for implementation by the Member Countries and implementation agencies including MRC.
The implementation strategy will be required to prepare for capacity building programmes for improving
institutional capacity in the MRC Member Countries, and the capability of each country to be able to
adopt rules and regulations for emergency response and the prevention and mitigation of risks and
impacts. The action plans will need to determine how the recommendations are to be implemented by
the Member Countries and include the information detailed below in Table 7.