Shipping puts Mekong at risk
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The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has released a comprehensive risk analysis of the transport of dangerous goods and issued recommendations to prevent oil spills, industrial waste and other threats from navigation.
Developed by the MRC Navigation Programme in Phnom Penh, the risk analysis shows that the management of operations of selected ports, terminals and vessels is not adequate to prevent pollution and ensure safe operations.
Several terminals, ports and vessels in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam are in poor condition and critical equipment is poorly maintained, increasing the risk of pollution, fire, explosions and other incidents.
At the same time, private operators are not investing in safety and environmental protection. Monitoring of facilities and operations by national government agencies is meanwhile limited.
The studies, posted on the MRC website last week, found that both inland water transport and the transport of dangerous goods are most developed in Cambodia and Vietnam.
In the Upper Mekong, the risk analysis found that exports of petroleum products from Thailand to China and Myanmar are growing. Private terminals discharge petroleum products to tanker barges from both countries, encouraging the development of Chiang Saen Commercial Port and private terminals.
