Skippers blow masses of toxic gases into the air: “Ministers could block this”
On many shipping routes in North Holland and Flevoland, inland tankers are still blowing thousands of cubic meters of highly toxic and carcinogenic gases into the air. Ministers could have secured this for years, but did not. This is the conclusion of a study by Erasmus University.
The Markermeer, in particular, close to Amsterdam, Enkhuizen and Flevoland, is a formidable place where barge skippers blow their pipes clean after delivering oil or chemicals. Until now, ‘degassing while sailing’ has been tolerated here. A government agency confirmed in 2021 that this happens 100 to 400 times a year on the Markermeer and IJsselmeer.
But there are also several places on the North Sea Canal and the Amsterdam Rhine Canal where this can happen, according to a map of the ministry. Skippers themselves run health risks. But it is also assumed that local residents may develop health problems. The polluted practices were brought to light in 2021 by whistleblower Ton Quist.
Omroep Flevoland has extended itself in this dossier. The central government has been calling for years that the liberations are highly undesirable. But also that the ministers are bound by European rules. At the request of Omroep Flevoland and NRC Handelsblad, an authority in International Law, Alessandra Arcuri, delved into the legislation and regulations.
And guess what? “We have consulted many legal sources. We have read thousands of pages. And nowhere can we find anything that stands in the way of a national obstacle. But on the basis of human rights treaties, the Netherlands must probably do it impossible, because the health of its inhabitants is at risk. game and the environment is being burdened,” Arcuri told the broadcaster. Arcuri presents its report today.
No base
The research by Arcuri and her colleague Abdurrahman Erol has now also been reviewed by Seline Trevisanut of the University of Utrecht. She endorses the conclusions of Arcuri and Erol: “The research suggests that international treaties have no underlying forms to introduce a ban. The ministry now has a duty to explain why that would not be possible.”
The results of the study have been submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. That is not the conclusion yet. A statement writes: “A letter to the House of Representatives will be issued this month, which will discuss these matters”.
The GroenLinks party in the House of Representatives has reacted well and is submitting a motivation today to realize ‘sailing degassing’ as quickly as possible throughout the Netherlands. The province of Flevoland has already responded to the outcome of the report. Last month, deputy Gepke van Gaal already indicated that he would take action against ships that blow toxic substances into the air.
Read more about this file on the site of Omroep Flevoland.