Port State Surveys on asbestos in the Netherlands

20. Jul. 2010 | Random inspections for asbestos in structure, equipment and ambient air onboard of ships are conducted in Dutch ports. These inspections are carried out during port state controls. A specialized company has been contracted to verify that port state inspectors are not affected by hazardous materials. If high asbestos concentrations are found, it is highly likely that a ship is declared as "non-inspectable".

While the protection of port state control inspectors is governed by national legislation and the statutes of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding the use of asbestos is regulated by SOLAS. Asbestos does not necessarily have to be installed during ship building but also during maintenance when cheap supplies are purchased. The ban of asbestos exists since a number of years under SOLAS and a total ban will come into effect as of January 1st 2011.

So far, asbestos was found in approximately 95% of all inspected vessels as mentioned in an article of Lloyds List on July 13th.

An Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) in line with the new IMO "Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of Ships" could minimize the risk that unknown asbestos could be discovered during these special inspections in the Netherlands. The inventory prepared by "Hazardous Material Experts" include investigation of asbestos in structure and equipment.

While the documentation of hazardous materials allows ship recyclers to safely plan their recycling work, it also helps ship owners to consider further actions when asbestos and hazardous conditions are identified on board of their vessels.

If the analysis of fibre concentrations in the ambivalent air onboard of a particular ship exceeds European and national thresholds measures like decontamination or encapsulation can safe the ship from being classified as "non-inspectable" and the crew from being exposed to an unhealthy workplace.

GL recommends to assess the risks for being expelled from important European ports and to consider the preparation of an Inventory of Hazardous Materials. Even when no asbestos is found, the major requirements of the IMO Hong Kong Convention is fulfilled well ahead before the Convention comes into force.

Germanischer Lloyd press release