Handling dangerous goods: which procedures to follow

In consideration of art. 22 of the Legislative Decree n. 272/99, regarding the adaptation of the norms of workers’ health and safety in the development of the harbour operations, it foresees - among other factors - that the Harbour Authorities (from now on Port System Authority - ADSP ) establish the times, the limits and the modalities relative to the discipline of the transit and the temporary stopping of dangerous goods in the harbour for the safety of the port installation as a set of state goods, managed by the Authority itself.

In compliance with this decree, the Port Authority of Genoa, now ADSP, has prepared what is necessary - both from an organisational point of view and with regard to management (Regulation issued with Ordinance of 22 May 2001, no. 4 and subsequent amendments and integrations).

Therefore, in the port of Genoa, anyone who intends to:
- store dangerous goods for embarkation in authorised parking areas;
- store dangerous goods from disembarkation in authorised parking areas;
- ensure that dangerous goods destined for embarkation and/or coming from disembarkation are discharged from the authorised parking areas;

must send the appropriate requests provided for in the "Regulations" to the Traffic and Dangerous Goods Office.

As far as procedures are concerned, the Special Administrative Body has made a computerised, telematic system called P.C.S., available (Sea-Gate port appliance) that, in the dangerous goods section, allows users who intervene in the operational cycle of dangerous goods to send the information required by the "Regulations" and receive, via computer, authorisation from the ADSP.

To activate the service and access the system, the Port System Authority can provide interested users with contacts for obtaining the necessary password and login.

In the port of Genoa there are 5 parking areas authorised for dangerous goods:

- PSA Genova Prà Terminal;
- Terminal Container SECH;
- Terminal IMT-Messina S.p.A.;
- Terminal Spinelli  S.r.l.;
- Terminal San Giorgio 

The objectives of the Regulation issued with Ordinance No. 4/2001 are:
- continuous and real-time monitoring of dangerous goods stored/transiting in the port of Genoa;
- quantity;
- localisation:
- type of goods (IMDG Code)

This is for the purposes of:

- the security of the port as a whole, with regard to a thorough risk assessment and the necessary prevention and protection measures;
- the need for timely and appropriate action in the event of an accident;
- methodical and constant survey of statistical data/quantity, type, average time of storage, etc., and also for a timely verification and assessment of the adequacy, or otherwise, of port infrastructure, such as authorised and controlled stopping areas, relating to current traffic needs as well as, and especially to, future ones.

The provisions of the above-mentioned Ordinance must also be complied with by the Companies that carry out refuelling operations on ships as well as on port operating means/machines which, due to their technical characteristics, are unable to be refuelled from a fixed installation.

In order to obtain the authorisation, which has the effect of enabling the activity to be carried out until the end of the relevant calendar year, the companies concerned must submit an application in plain paper carrying the required amount of revenue stamps with the following documentation attached (Order No. 4 of 27 August 2008):
- certificate of registration in the Register of Companies at the Chamber of Commerce (substitute declaration);
- a declaration containing a list of the means and equipment used, as well as the staff employed in the operation;
- copy of the full coverage insurance policy;
- a copy of the licence issued by the competent administration entitling the holder to carry out the activity.

Given the need to regulate the activities carried out in the port of Genoa, it was considered necessary to regulate the entry and temporary stop of mobile fuel tanks in port by issuing Order no. 3 of 01 March 2011.

Given the need to regulate the activities carried out in the port of Genoa and that their safe performance directly reflects on the general safety of the port, it was considered necessary to regulate the use of heat sources for the execution of repair, demolition and maintenance work carried out in the unauthorised parts of the port of Genoa, issuing Ord. no.8 of 17 June 2010, supplemented and amended by Ord. no.12 of 8 October 2010.

In addition, given the need to regulate the transit of exceptional vehicles in the port and maritime areas, Order no. 11 of 17 November 1997 and subsequent amendments, supplemented by Order no. 5 of 22 April 2014, was issued.

For further information:

Traffic and Dangerous Goods Office
Tel. + 39 010 241 2455 – 2527 – 2672
Email: merci.pericolose@porto.genova.it