Thursday, July 15, 2010

Shipping Ministry Calls for Report on Storage and Handling of Dangerous & Inflammable Goods From all Major Ports 
  
The Ministry of Shipping has asked all Major Ports to send a detailed report of dangerous and inflammable goods lying in the port area. The Ministry has sought exact details on the name and classification of goods, quantity, date since which it has been lying in the port, reasons and the action taken by the concerned Port Authority in each case. The report is to be submitted to the Ministry by all the Major Ports by 21 July, 2010.

This direction has been given because it has come to the Ministry’s notice that dangerous goods and highly inflammable material have been lying in the port areas for long periods of time causing leakages and accidents. The Ministry has therefore asserted that all the dangerous and highly inflammable goods need to be handled and stored by observing safe handling practices as stipulated in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code.

Ports have been asked to ensure all the safety norms in and around the storage area. Any dangerous goods lying in the port premises beyond the stipulated period of one month should be disposed off in the manner specified under Section 62 of the Major Port Trust Act 1963.

The Ministry has further directed that goods lying under seizure by Customs Department and other enforcement agencies may be moved to their godowns at the earliest and followed up with the concerned agency for their expeditious disposal and to avoid any accidents in the port premises.


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