The Port of Antwerp recently hosted an international workshop on port facilities for ship’s waste and cargo residues after being chosen for its efforts in promoting its collection.
The IMO, the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea and the Public Flemish Waste Company chose the Port of Antwerp to host the workshop; which focused on sharing the best practices with countries on the southern and eastern seaboards of the Mediterranean.
While shipping is the most energy efficient mode of transport, it nevertheless has an impact on the environment. There is a mass of regulation, both European and international, placing restrictions on pollution caused by shipping.
The Port of Antwerp has created incentives for ships calling at the port to encourage the correct disposal of waste rather than dumping it at sea. The port has opted for a free market approach in terms of collection companies, which has also had a positive effect on waste management.
Since the present regulations were introduced in 2006, the volume of ship’s waste collected, particularly oil residues, has risen significantly as a result in the past few years – up to 40% of ships calling at Antwerp present waste for collection.
