Summer session 2017 of the Contracting Parties Conference of the CDNI

Source: Secretariat of the CDNI

 
Strasbourg, 26.06.2017‐ The Contracting Parties Conference (CPC) held its summer session in Strasbourg on 22 June 2017. The conference was chaired by Mr. Winfried Kliche, representing Germany.
 

Adoption of the provisions on the handling of gaseous residues: atmospheric protection incorporated into the CDNI in close consultation with the interested parties.

 
The Contracting Parties Conference adopted a resolution amending the Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste produced during navigation on the Rhine and inland waterways and its Implementing regulation. This amendment aims to avoid environmental pollution caused by the release into the atmosphere of harmful fumes. The players will be required to eliminate the fumes, or have them eliminated, in an appropriate manner in accordance with the polluter pays principle.
 
This is the first amendment of the Convention since it was signed in 1996. The adopted text was the subject of close consultation with the approved organisations which had set up a dedicated steering group (Steering Committee Gaseous residues of liquid cargo in inland tanker shipping – GRTS).
 
Harmonised regulations at international level have proved to be unavoidable. Indeed, locally imposed degassing bans are proving insufficiently effective, incurring a risk of “waste tourism”.
 
The new provisions therefore clarify the participants’ obligations and responsibilities, the substances in question and their handling. The approach adopted is similar to that for the provisions governing cargo residue and in particular to the washing of cargo tanks. As with washing costs, the costs incurred by degassing tanks are borne by the charterer.
 
The studies conducted estimate that this amendment will avoid 95% of harmful degassing from vessels into the atmosphere within the geographical scope of the Convention and thus represents a considerable improvement, both for the environment and for the sustainability of freight transport by inland waterway.
 
The degassing ban will be phased in so as to enable the necessary infrastructure and appropriate logistical solutions, such as the use of dedicated or compatible transport, to be developed.
 
The most harmful substances will be banned 6 months after ratification. A second list will come into force 2 years after ratification. The third phase of the ban will come into force within a 3 or 4 year timescale depending on the outcome of an intermediate assessment of the Implementing regulation. The CPC will undertake an interim assessment to determine the requirements in real-time, in particular in the light of ongoing scientific developments in this field. It is therefore not out of the question that the Contracting Parties Conference will deem it necessary to include other harmful substances in the third phase.
 
The modified Convention will come into force once it has been ratified by the Contracting Parties as a whole.
 
Resolution 2017-I-4
 

Electronic research and information tool WaSTo (Waste Standards Tool) for the new unloading standards

 
The Contracting Parties Conference approved WaSTO going online, WaSTO being an electronic tool for the CDNI’s unloading standards. This tool aims to support the introduction of the new version of the unloading standards which will come into force on 1^st January 2018.
 
WaSTo
 

• incorporates the regulatory content in force on 1^st January 2018;
• enables one to search for a given substance;
• identifies the modifications that have been made and makes it easy to spot the relevant modifications;
• explains the reasons behind the modification;
• explains the health and environmental risks posed by the cargo residue;
• creates your personalised goods list with the associated unloading standards.

 
To fine-tune the features, the user will be able to contact the CDNI Secretariat directly to notify requirements or suggest improvements to WaSTo.
 
Resolution 2016-II-4
 

New obligation to retain a copy of the unloading certificate for the consignee and wash water reception stations (amendment of article 7.01 of the Implementing regulation)

 
The Contracting Parties Conference adopted an amendment of article 7.01 of the Implementing Regulation requiring the consignee and the wash water reception stations to retain a copy of the unloading certificate for at least six months after it is issued. This measure will facilitate corroboration in the context of monitoring the obligations on the various parties and will thus help improve implementation of the requirements on cargo residue (part B).
 
The boatmaster was already obliged to retain the unloading certificate onboard for 6 months.
The new requirement will enter into force on 1^st January 2018.
 
Resolution 2017-I-5
 

GTL disposal charge

 
The Contracting Parties Conference confirmed that the GTL (gas-to-liquids), an alternative fuel used increasingly often in inland navigation, is to be equated with diesel. Consequently, vessels running on GTL are required to pay the disposal charge. Payment of the disposal charge provides an entitlement to deposit oily and greasy waste in the reception stations designated by the national institutions.
 
Resolution 2017-I-6
 

Film on the CDNI / 20 years since the signing of the Convention

 
At the CPC’s request, a short film was made of the CDNI’s ethos and objective. This was presented to the public on 09 September 2016 to mark the 20^th anniversary of the signing of the Convention and can be viewed on the internet www.cdni-iwt.org.
 

FAQ

 
The CPC regularly takes note of the answers to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) prepared by the CDNI/G working group and approves their publication on the CDNI website www.cdni-iwt.org under the FAQ heading. These answers aim to facilitate application of the CDNI and to promote a consistent interpretation. A current focus is on questions relating to Part B (collection, deposit and reception of cargo-related waste). During its meeting, the CPC approved additional FAQs.
 

Publication of the updated electronic version of the waste Convention

 
The consolidated version of the Convention is published in electronic format on the CDNI’s website www.cdni-iwt.org. The hard copy update sheets for updating the 2014 printed version are still available.
 
The consolidated versions of the unloading certificates that will come into force on 1^st July 2017 are already available online.
 

2017 meetings: consultation of the associations recognised by the profession in December

 
The CPC will organise a hearing of recognised associations on 14 December 2017.
The next meeting of the CPC will take place on 15 December 2017, chaired by Mr. Kliche, representing Germany.
All meeting dates and agendas are published on the CDNI’s website.