Ships’ waste from inland shipping

Waste categories

Inland vessels can dispose of various kinds of waste in the port of Rotterdam and the ports of the Drecht cities. The collection, disposal and reception of ships’ commercial waste containing oil and grease, waste from cargo and other commercial waste are subject to uniform regulations laid down by Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands in the Ship Waste Decree (CDNI). This legislation is incorporated in the Netherlands in the Ship Waste (Rhine and Inland Waterways) Decree. The decree identifies three types of waste:

A. Ships’ waste containing oil and grease;
B. Waste from cargo;
C. Other ships’ waste.

A. Ships’ waste containing oil and grease

This category covers waste from the engine room such as bilge water, used oil, filters, used cleaning rags and used grease. This waste must be deposited (and a delivery receipt obtained) with a collecting facility which has a contract with the Association of Maritime Services.

B. Waste from cargo

Cargo waste is generated during the transhipment and transport of dry and liquid cargo. The recipient or consignor of the cargo is responsible for the costs of cleaning the vessel’s holds and gangways after unloading. The handling facility indicates where waste or washing water can be deposited. A supervisor from the Harbour Master’s Division may request the skipper to prove the cleaning method and the quantity of deposited waste.

C. Other ships’ waste

Other ships’ waste covers the following kinds of waste: domestic waste, domestic waste water, slops from the holds and tanks and all waste not containing oil, including small hazardous waste such as batteries. There are waste containers for domestic waste at the public berths in the port area. Domestic waste can be deposited free of charge here. If the container is full, please email klachtenbuitenruimte@portofrotterdam.com. The container will then be emptied as soon as possible. If you have bulky (domestic) waste and/or small hazardous waste, you can deposit this with a collector who is contracted to the SAB.

Inspections

In order to ensure the proper deposit of ships’ waste, employees of the Harbour Master’s Division regularly board vessels to check compliance with the environmental regulations and the Ship Waste Decree. Spills are subject to a fine and contamination is cleaned up at the expense of the party responsible.

Degassing

As of 1 January 2015 a degassing ban for benzene (UN 1114) applies in the provinces of South Holland and North Brabant. Vessels intending to degas this substance must do so at a port reception facility which has a vapour processing system. For more information about the substances which may or may not be degassed at the permitted locations in the port of Rotterdam, please consult the Rotterdam Bye-laws. You can also contact the Harbour Coordination Centre.