Summer session 2024 of the Contracting Parties Conference

Strasbourg, 27 June 2024 – The main issues discussed at the Conference of the Contracting Parties (CPC) on 27 June 2024 included the disposal charge, SPE-CDNI 3.0, the electronic recording of waste and the ban on venting. The meeting took place at the Palais du Rhin in Strasbourg, and was chaired by Mr Alexandros Koltsidas, from the Swiss delegation to the CDNI (Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste produced during navigation on the Rhine and inland waterways).

Disposal charge maintained at €10/1,000 litres of gasoil

The CPC decided to maintain the disposal charge for oily and greasy waste at €10 per 1,000 litres of gas oil supplied. This resolution is based on the latest IIPC report on the annual evaluation of the system for financing the reception and disposal of oily and greasy waste produced during the course of operating the vessel. However, in view of the current rise in prices, an increase of the disposal charge will probably be necessary in 2026.

SPE-CDNI 3.0: further improvements to the system

The new SPE-CDNI 3.0 payment system has been in service since August 2023. It allows boatmasters to pay the disposal charge for oily and greasy waste produced during the course of operating the vessel, either with a smartphone (mobile application) or by means of a printed ECO-ID (QR code).

In order to further improve the system, the CPC has approved a number of changes to SPE-CDNI 3.0. Users will now be able to display and check the balance of their ECO-account via the application. In addition, there will be a new function allowing transactions to be corrected. Currently, incorrect transactions can only be cancelled and not corrected. The new correction function will streamline operations for users and bunkering locations’ operators. Finally, if a transaction fails, a window will open in the application explaining the cause of the failure. These new developments will be integrated by the end of July.

Progress made on the electronic recording of the deposit of waste

A new electronic recording system for the deposit of oily and greasy waste is being developed. This represents a first step in the digitisation of the used-oil logbook. The new system is already online, but still needs to be linked to the current systems used in reception and collection stations. No specific action is required on the part of the boatmaster.

Additional data accessible on the financing system

The CDNI is providing its users with a tool allowing the display of public information (dashboard): https://www.cdni-iwt.org/dashboard/?lang=en. This tool shows the key data relating to the collection of oily and greasy waste and the financing system.

The CPC has approved the publication of new displays for the volumes of oily and greasy waste accepted, the volumes of diesel bunkered (in particular, for each type of vessel) as well as the cost of disposing of oily and greasy waste. Additional options for displaying, filtering and organising the data will also be incorporated.

Final adjustments before the ban on venting enters into force

The amendment to the Convention has now been ratified by all of the Contracting parties, with the final instrument being deposited by Switzerland on 23 April 2024. The new provisions include a ban on venting and information on the treatment of gaseous residues from liquid cargoes. The ban will come into force on 1 October 2024. The delegations presented the measures adopted with a view to the implementation of this change, the ongoing discussions and any difficulties that were encountered.

The CDNI website provides users with a chart enabling users to locate operational degassing stations available to inland navigation: https://www.cdni-iwt.org/points-of-acceptance/?lang=en.

Further discussions in 2024

The next meeting of the CDNI Working group will be on 23 and 24 October in Strasbourg.
The next meeting of the IIPC will be on 19 November in Strasbourg.
The next meeting of the CPC will be on 12 December in Strasbourg.

Source: Secretariat of the CDNI