Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

FROM RISK ANALYSIS TO RECOMMENDATIONS 3
were reviewed in the Member Countries in June and July 2012 to determine priority areas for improving
transport of dangerous goods. The level of the existing standards applied in each of the Member
Countries was determined using the criteria illustrated below in Figure 2.
Storage Risk Controls Location
• Type and class of
dangerous goods; and
• Quantity of dangerous
goods.
• Safety measures at the
ports and terminals and
onboard vessels;
• Regulation, compliance
and monitoring; and
• Emergency response
preparedness.
Figure 2: Criteria Used to Assess and Prioritise Risks
• Water intake (drinking);
Protected area/important
wetlands;
• Trans boundary pollution;
and
Proximity to urban
population and local
communities
To determine priority areas, the Navigation Programme and the international consultants analysed
the risk assessments, data and information to determine the risk levels in Member Countries. Existing
standards from the Member Countries were then compared with the following risk criteria:
• international benchmarks;
• causes of major incidents in the maritime, inland waterborne transport (IWT) and
petroleum sector; and
• possible severity of impacts from fires, explosions and pollution.
National consultations were held with national line agencies and key stakeholders in the transport
of dangerous goods in November and December 2011. The aim was to review the findings from the
risk analysis and determining priority areas for implementation at the national and regional level.
Inputs from the consultations were used to finalise the Risk Analysis in Volume I and to prepare these
Recommendations in Volume II.
A final regional workshop was held in Bangkok on 12 and 13 January in Bangkok. The workshop
provided an opportunity to review the findings of Risk Analysis at the regional level. Participants were
also required to prioritise the draft recommendations for ports/terminals, vessels, waterways, legal
frameworks and the environment. National and regional priorities were included.
Volumes I and II provide a useful framework to ensure a balance between inland waterborne transport
and environmental protection. The Risk Analysis will be an important reference for the MRC, national
line agencies, development partners and the private sector for many years to come. The Navigation
Programme looks forward to the opportunity of working together with the Member Countries and
navigation sector to improve the transport of dangerous goods in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) to:
• prevent pollution and environmental damage to the water resources of the Mekong River;
• protect the lives of workers, crewmembers and riparian communities; and
• enhance emergency response and effective coordination for oil spills, fires and other
major accidents along the waterway.