New rules on phosphine in inland navigation improve safety but cannot eliminate all risks
Phosphine is a highly toxic gas used to control pests in products such as grain and animal feed. Residues of fumigants can release phosphine during transport by inland waterway vessels, posing serious safety risks to crew members.
On behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, CE Delft and Witteveen+Bos conducted an ex-ante evaluation of new international regulations for the transport of previously fumigated bulk cargo. These measures have been adopted for inclusion in ADN 2027, the international regulations governing the carriage of dangerous goods by inland waterways.
The study finds that the proposed measures can make an important contribution to improving safety in inland navigation. Requirements for documentation, gas measurements and detection equipment can help identify risks and limit the consequences of incidents. However, their effectiveness depends strongly on reliable information about previous fumigation and consistent implementation.
CE Delft and Witteveen+Bos therefore recommend developing internationally harmonised measurement instructions and clear incident-response procedures. In addition, phosphine risks should preferably be addressed as early as possible in the international transport chain. However, tackling these risks at source is difficult in practice, as fumigation often takes place outside the direct sphere of influence of Dutch and European ADN authorities. Furthermore, countries differ in their regulations, measurement methods and implementation practices. International cooperation is therefore essential, but cannot guarantee that all risks will be eliminated at source. The new ADN provisions consequently serve primarily as an additional safety barrier against risks that have not been adequately addressed earlier in the transport chain.