Inspections

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate monitors whether the transport of dangerous goods by sea complies with provisions stipulated in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). Every year, some 2,500 inspections are carried out, primarily in Dutch harbours.

The Inspectorate’s authority is far-reaching – they can suspend transportation until infringements have been removed, impose an order for periodic penalty payments and draw up reports penalty of charge (proces verbaal). The Inspectorate works closely with the customs department, the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and the harbour police.

The Inspectorate focuses on three types of transport:

  • container transport
  • RoRo transport (roll-on/roll-off)
  • offshore transport