Rhine Port Group issues LNG response guidelines for inland navigation

The Rhine Port Group, which consists of the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Antwerp, the Port of Mannheim, the Port of Strasbourg and the Port of Switzerland, released the first issue of a recent LNG emergency and incident response study.

The document informs emergency response organisations how to prepare themselves to manage credible LNG incidents on inland navigation along the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor. The target group of the study is emergency responders in the inland waterway transport (IWT) sector, consisting of emergency response organisations such as fire brigades and port authorities. This study was executed under the EU-funded project ‘LNG Masterplan for Rhine-Main-Danube’, the group said in a joint statement.

The document consists of two main parts, the desk study of existing technology and state of readiness in the Rhine Ports and guidelines for LNG incident preparedness education and training.

The consortium of Falck RISC and the Unified Fire Department was chosen mid-2014 to execute the study because of their specific knowledge of LNG technology and incident preparedness in inland navigation.

The study has shown that much knowledge and experience is already available within the EU concerning a high level of safety of international carriage of dangerous goods on inland waterways.

With the introduction of international carriage of LNG on European inland waterways has also introduced a new phenomenon for Emergency Services and Port Authorities to be prepared for.

Image: Port of Rotterdam