Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

1.3.3 Enforcement and Compliance
FROM RISK ANALYSIS TO RECOMMENDATIONS 7
Maintenance and management were limited at some of the ports, terminals and vessels visited
during the Risk Analysis. A number of terminals and ports were in poor structural condition with
equipment poorly maintained and not calibrated properly, increasing the risks of pollution, fire,
explosion and other incidents. This reflects not only the failure of private operators to invest in safety
and environmental protection but also limited government monitoring of facilities and operations.
National line agencies have limited budgets, resources and technical capacity to perform monitoring
and compliance activities for navigation and petroleum terminals. In respect to the environment, water
quality monitoring needs to be improved to determine oil spill pollution and impacts of navigation and
other industries. Environmental management plans (EMP) should be developed by ports and terminals
to ensure the risks of pollution are effectively controlled and monitored.
1.3.4 Public Information and Awareness
Public information and awareness related to dangerous goods, environmental protection and waste
management need to be enhanced in all Member Countries. Limited awareness and understanding
of the risks associated with dangerous goods increases the potential for pollution, fire, explosion and
other incidents. Training and capacity building for all port workers, vessel operators and all waterway
users on the safe handling of dangerous goods is required. Capacity building is also needed for national
line agencies for monitoring and compliance related to dangerous goods at ports and terminals
and onboard vessels. Public information campaigns should be available in riparian languages for all
waterway users. To encourage private sector investment in safety, environmental protection and oil
spill response, industry forums could be established in partnership with the MRC and the public sector.
1.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
Volume II determines strategic recommendations for improving the transport of dangerous goods in
relation to the five components of the Risk Analysis. The recommendations contained in this volume
are considered very high and high priority areas in all Member Countries.
The recommendations for ports and terminals (Chapter 2) and vessels (Chapter 3) are for the
management and operations of ports, terminals and vessels in the Member Countries and the
national line agencies responsible for compliance and enforcement. These recommendations
provide guidance on technical/management and training/institutional capacity to address the very
high and high priority areas determined in Volume I. The chapters also provide important strategic
recommendations for improving the transport of dangerous goods at the regional and national level to
ensure further monitoring and compliance of ports, terminals and vessel operations.
Strategic recommendations for waterways (Chapter 4), the legal framework (Chapter 5) and the
environment (Chapter 6) cover institutional capacity, monitoring and compliance, emergency
response and enhancing coordination between relevant line agencies, the private sector and
other key stakeholders. This volume also summarises problems identified in the Risk Analysis and
recommendations to improve the transport and management of dangerous goods at the national
and regional levels to prevent pollution incidents and enhance coordination and monitoring of the
navigation sector. Some of the recommendations can be implemented in the short term with limited
investment. Others, however, will require more investment, capacity building and further consultation
with Member Countries to develop a strategic plan. In this regard, the recommendations in this volume
will be used to develop the Phase 2 project, the Implementation Strategy for Sustainable Management
of Dangerous Goods. Member Countries, line agencies and the private sector are encouraged to study
these recommendations and consider how they can be implemented and consider the potential
opportunities and difficulties.