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Air protection and regulation of the degassing of inland navigation vessels: The Kingdom of the Netherlands deposits the instrument ratifying the amendment to the CDNI

Press release

Strasbourg, 03.07.2020 – The Kingdom of the Netherlands has deposited the instrument of acceptance of the amendment to the Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste produced during navigation on the Rhine and inland waterways (CDNI). This major amendment to the Convention aims to ensure the protection of the air by strictly regulating the degassing of inland navigation vessels.

 

Source: Secretariat of the CDNI

 
This instrument of acceptance was signed on 13 March 2020 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands but could not, until today, be physically deposited with the depositary in Strasbourg due to the Covid-19 health crisis. The instrument was finally able to be deposited by Ambassador Roeland Böcker, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe. The deposition was made to Mr Bruno Georges, Secretary General of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR), who is the depositary authority.
 
The amendment aims to introduce a gradual prohibition of degassing in the scope of application of the CDNI to prevent gaseous cargo residues (vapours) that are harmful to the environment being released into the atmosphere. These residues arise from certain liquid cargoes loaded by vessels, and which must be evacuated prior to loading the next cargo. The six Contracting States of the CDNI adopted these new regulations which provide for the necessary procedures and facilities receiving and handling these gaseous residues.
 
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is the second Contracting State to deposit the instrument after the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (see the press release). The ratification procedure is in progress in the four other CDNI States. The amendment will come into force six months after the last instrument of ratification has been deposited.
 
A dedicated webpage addressing the new provisions on degassing and their implementation, containing all the relevant information has been published recently: https://www.cdni-iwt.org/part-b-degassing/?lang=en

Press release