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The protection of the marine environment is an important item on the national and international agenda. This has resulted in a European Directive (2000/59/EC) Port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. The directive is laid down in the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act (Wet Voorkoming Verontreiniging door Vessels, or WVVS) in the Netherlands.
Under this directive, ports in the European member states are required to draw up a Port Waste Plan for their region. Amsterdam Seaports (Amsterdam, Zaanstad, Beverwijk and Velsen/IJmuiden) have drawn up a Plan together.
The Port Waste Plan describes the organisation, processes, notifications, financial settlement and measures that are required in the North Sea Canal area. The plan, which took effect on 1 November 2004, requires every vessel to deposit their ship-generated waste and cargo residues to a port reception facility. Amsterdam Seaports offers facilities for depositing any type of waste.
According to the EU, every vessel must contribute financially to the collection, transport and processing of ship-generated waste. That is why all vessels must pay a levy, even if they are not disposing of waste. This will reduce the economic incentive of discharging waste at sea.
After paying, every vessel will have the right to dispose of their ship-generated waste. The paid amount is used on behalf of processing waste on shore.
The system of payments and refunds must be balanced. In 2005 a surplus was created. The tariffs are adjusted in 2006, to return the generated surplus to the sector. Now the surplus is entirely eliminated and there is a shortage. In order to find balance the tariffs are increased. The new tariffs will become effective in May 1, 2011.
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