Determination of risks on inland waterways

In the order of the working group oil- and chemical-combating (WOCB) of Rijkswaterstaat EnSaCo executed in the period from 1992 to 1995, an investigation of the organization around calamities was executed. The study has been applied to the inland waterways of Netherlands which are administered by Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management). The investigation has been divided into four phases: (1) the classification of the inland waterways of the Netherlands into four risk-classes; (2) the determination per location whether the amount of preparation of combating acute spills measures the risks of these locations or not; (3) the comparison of the present situation with a situation in which the combating of oil and chemical spills is executed by non-governmental organizations; and (4) the development of standard contingency plans for combating spills for the different relevant locations in the Netherlands. Based on the three classes, the inland waters have been divided into: (1) 11 inland waters with a very large risk; (2) 23 inland waters with a large risk; (3) 13 inland waters with a moderate risk; and (4) 24 inland waters with a small risk. As a result of the study, Rijkswaterstaat has evaluated its present organization and preparedness and will also use the results to optimize the combating organization. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.