Port of Antwerp intensifies measures against illegal waste
Antwerp, 30 November 2011 – A particularly sharp watch will be kept on shipments of second-hand cars through the port of Antwerp as of 1 January 2012. The conditions that the vehicles have to meet are laid down in the “Regulations for handling second-hand cars in the port of Antwerp,” which were approved by the Port Authority board of directors on Tuesday evening. Sharper checks will be carried out not only on the vehicles themselves but also on accompanying freight. With these new regulations the port of Antwerp seeks to make clear what can and cannot be shipped.
From temporary to definitive regulations
Antwerp has long been a leader in ro/ro freight, with 3.9 million tonnes being shipped in 2010. However, the trade in second-hand cars is increasingly being associated with transport of illegal waste. “We are getting more and more reports of car dealers using second-hand vehicles as ‘packaging’ for materials that are borderline or even downright illegal,” said Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx. To combat this phenomenon, temporary regulations were introduced on 1 July 2011. During the past few months these regulations have been further refined in consultation with the various authorities concerned. For example, vehicles that are refused cannot even enter the terminal and must be removed immediately. Not only that, but also they cannot be presented again for shipping at any other terminal in the Antwerp port area unless they have been brought into compliance with the acceptance criteria. This problem and the regulations developed in Antwerp to counter it will be brought up for discussion by Bruyninckx at meetings with his opposite numbers in other European ports.
Strict criteria for accompanying freight
The definitive regulations lay down strict criteria for items that accompany the vehicles. Such “accompanying freight” is defined as materials that do not belong to the vehicle itself but that are shipped in or along with it. The list of prohibited accompanying freight includes among other things old car parts, refrigerators and freezers containing CFCs, old and defective equipment such as domestic appliances, televisions, computers and mobile phones, as well as old car batteries, expired medicines and waste oil. Vehicles with forbidden accompanying freight can be blocked at any time; the shipper or owner than has ten working days in which to bring them into compliance.
Fight against illegal trade
To enforce the new regulations the Port Authority appointed another eight inspectors in the middle of the past year. This enables additional checks to be carried out at terminals where the percentage of vehicles rejected is suspiciously low. “We want to make absolutely clear that the new regulations mean what they say: they are a tool that we will use to banish illicit practices from our port,” Marc Van Peel declared. The port of Antwerp aims to be the most efficient link in the entire logistics chain, for the benefit of its customers. “This means not only that we aim to handle the goods quickly and efficiently, but also that we want to be a reliable port in every way, where there is no place for organised crime,” the port alderman concluded. The Port Authority will therefore give full support to the customs, police and inspection services in their efforts to combat all forms of illegal trade, including the drugs trade.
From temporary to definitive regulations
Antwerp has long been a leader in ro/ro freight, with 3.9 million tonnes being shipped in 2010. However, the trade in second-hand cars is increasingly being associated with transport of illegal waste. “We are getting more and more reports of car dealers using second-hand vehicles as ‘packaging’ for materials that are borderline or even downright illegal,” said Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx. To combat this phenomenon, temporary regulations were introduced on 1 July 2011. During the past few months these regulations have been further refined in consultation with the various authorities concerned. For example, vehicles that are refused cannot even enter the terminal and must be removed immediately. Not only that, but also they cannot be presented again for shipping at any other terminal in the Antwerp port area unless they have been brought into compliance with the acceptance criteria. This problem and the regulations developed in Antwerp to counter it will be brought up for discussion by Bruyninckx at meetings with his opposite numbers in other European ports.
Strict criteria for accompanying freight
The definitive regulations lay down strict criteria for items that accompany the vehicles. Such “accompanying freight” is defined as materials that do not belong to the vehicle itself but that are shipped in or along with it. The list of prohibited accompanying freight includes among other things old car parts, refrigerators and freezers containing CFCs, old and defective equipment such as domestic appliances, televisions, computers and mobile phones, as well as old car batteries, expired medicines and waste oil. Vehicles with forbidden accompanying freight can be blocked at any time; the shipper or owner than has ten working days in which to bring them into compliance.
Fight against illegal trade
To enforce the new regulations the Port Authority appointed another eight inspectors in the middle of the past year. This enables additional checks to be carried out at terminals where the percentage of vehicles rejected is suspiciously low. “We want to make absolutely clear that the new regulations mean what they say: they are a tool that we will use to banish illicit practices from our port,” Marc Van Peel declared. The port of Antwerp aims to be the most efficient link in the entire logistics chain, for the benefit of its customers. “This means not only that we aim to handle the goods quickly and efficiently, but also that we want to be a reliable port in every way, where there is no place for organised crime,” the port alderman concluded. The Port Authority will therefore give full support to the customs, police and inspection services in their efforts to combat all forms of illegal trade, including the drugs trade.