The Netherlands will impose a nationwide degasification ban for inland navigation vessels. The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Van Nieuwenhuizen wants the degasification ban to be introduced in the Netherlands by mid-2020.
This ban aims to make the air quality around shipping routes better. Inland shipping vessels often leave harmful emissions in the open air while sailing. The degassing ban must provide about 95% less emissions of harmful volatile substances by 2023.
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A taskforce will be created in order to ensure along with the business community that the introduction of this national degassing ban runs smoothly. Port of Amsterdam is one of the organisations that will be participating in this process.
Th ban will start with degassing motor fuels and benzene in 2020, followed by more than 10% benzene-containing liquids in 2022 and finally in 2023 a ban on the 25 most frequently transported hazardous substances. Reclaimed substances will be used as raw materials to create an environmentally friendly cycle.
In addition to the Port of Amsterdam other parties that are involved in the task force are the Government, port companies, Shell Nederland and the provinces of North Holland, North Brabant, South Holland, Utrecht, Overijssel, Gelderland, Flevoland and Zeeland.
These provinces already have a ban on the floating degassing of benzene and more than 10% benzene-containing mixtures.
