Annual Report 2006

2
Sustainable environment
The environmental effects of port activities – such as noise pollution
and smells caused by industry – sometimes extend into the transitional
area between the port and the city. To further improve the situation,
the Port of Amsterdam is designating safety circles around companies
within which residential construction is banned. On top of that, the
Port is taking measures to reduce noise, with respect to both noiseproducing
companies and (in some cases) the houses being
affected.
Industrial noise
The Port is controlling noise pollution by maintaining enough distance
between the noise sources and residential areas, as well by using
a noise zoning system related to Dutch legislation in this area.
Interestingly, the Port of Amsterdam has taken the lead in the
Nomeports project (Noise Management in European Ports), with
the aim of developing an improved local noise management system–
as part of a wider effort to reduce noise pollution in European ports.
In 2006, the port authority set the first steps in this direction.
Air quality
The Port Amsterdam promotes the reduction in CO2 and fine dust
emissions by ships, plants, power plants and transshipment
activities. One case in point is LBH/Rietlanden’s ultramodern coal
terminal, which became operational in 2006. The company has
taken a wide range of measures aimed at preventing dust nuisance,
including the use of dust screens around the site; enclosed
conveyor belts replacing diggers (earth-moving equipment); a
dust-monitoring system that is new to the port, which, in doing so,
is going beyond what is required by the Environmental Permit; a
layer of cellulose (paper pulp) sprayed over the piles of coal (is also
done at the older terminals); as well as closed crane grabs.
In 2006, the Port of Amsterdam made a beginning with putting into
service, more environmentally friendly port authority boats. The Triton
was commissioned in September last year. It is a next-generation
patrol boat using greener engines and emission-reducing catalytic
converters. Other vessels operated by the Port of Amsterdam will
be replaced by eco-friendlier boats at an increased rate. The port
authority’s car fleet is being similarly modernized.
General environmental issues
Amsterdam is a Green Award port. Ships (tankers in particular) that
comply with a great many environmental and safety requirements
receive the Green Award certificate and flag. These vessels obtain a
6% discount on the port dues. In 2006, 16 ships flying a Green Award
flag visited the Port of Amsterdam. Tankers with a segregated ballast
tank (this ballast tank is separated from the cargo) get 17% off the
port dues.
The port authority aims to ensure that visiting ships are safe and
environmentally friendly. Despite the Port’s best effort, problems
sometimes arise, including three in 2006. The Probo Koala wanted
to dispose of slops (the residue of a ship’s cargo of oil together with
the water used to clean the cargo tanks), but ultimately decided to
do so elsewhere. The waste ended up on waste dumps in Ivory
Coast, killing eight people, according to the country’s authorities.
The case is still being examined. In the meantime, the Port of
Amsterdam and the City Environmental Department are playing an
active role to prevent such incidents. They have made a risk analysis
and developed drill programs for incidents. The Ministry of the
Environment is now seeking to bring into better alignment, the
rules and regulations, as well as the policies of all parties involved.
The Port of Amsterdam also had to deal with the end-of-life ships
Sandrien and Otapan, which contained asbestos. In 2006, a ship
breaker in North Amsterdam started work on the Sandrien. Then
there was the case of the Otapan, which was to be scrapped in
Turkey. But en route to that country, the vessel turned out to contain
much more asbestos than was allowed in the permit. The Otapan
was sent back to Amsterdam, where the ship was inspected at the
behest of the authorities. Early in 2007, the Otapan was towed to
Rotterdam, where it will be dismantled.