Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

3. VESSELS
3.1 INTRODUCTION
RECOMMENDATIONS 57
There is a clear need for heightened awareness and better real-time information about the full array
of activities involving the transport of dangerous goods in the Member Countries to ensure the safety
and security of people and operations and the environmental protection of the Mekong River. Proper
management of vessel operations not only requires strict policies by the ship owners or charterers
but also much more advanced monitoring and control by the relevant authorities. Many studies
show human error as the cause of about 80 percent of all maritime casualties. Hence, protecting the
environment and enhancing safety require continued focus and vigilance not only by the industries
but also by the authorities concerned. Moreover, improving commercial vessel safety, security, and
environmental protection should be a regional concern as there is potential for pollution incidents and
navigational accidents to become a trans-boundary problem.
Vessel owners, operators and government agencies responsible for controlling and implementing
safety procedures and equipment share responsibility for continued improvement in vessel
safety, security, and environmental compliance. Improvements should be based on a combination
of voluntary and regulatory measures, including a broad range of guidelines and mandatory legal
regimes for domestic and international transport of dangerous goods. In the short to medium term,
attention has to be focused on the implementation, control, and enforcement of appropriate and
harmonised technical standards and management requirements on the Mekong River. The success of
these efforts will depend on a broad domestic and international framework with several components.
A strong voluntary commitment on the part of the vessel owners and operators to build a culture
that incorporates safety, security, and environmental protection is crucial. Upholding high values for
efficient and safe vessel operations is a key factor. Another very important component is a regional
and international commitment to effective control and enforcement, both by those with primary
responsibility for vessel operation and by receiving ports.