Expert Meeting on Ship-generated waste (6 March 2025)- A step forward towards a cleaner Danube

The Expert Meeting on Ship-generated waste was held on 6 March 2023 in hybrid format under the chairmanship of the representative of Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by over 25 experts from the member states of the Danube Commission (Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Ukraine) and representatives of DG MOVE, Secretary of the UNECE Working Party on Inland Navigation, the Secretary of the Sava Commission and the Policy Officer of the Strasbourg Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste generated during navigation on the Rhine and other inland waterways (CDNI).

The experts discussed the implementation of the Recommendations for organizing the collection of ship-generated waste in Danube navigation (DK/TAG 97/15), the development of the infrastructure for the collection and disposal of waste from ships operating on the Danube and the financing model. On the basis of the updated DFND document and the results of the Questionnaire on the experiences of the DC Member States in implementing the Recommendations, the first updated version of the Recommendations (doc. DK/TAG 97/15) was discussed.

Other important topics on the agenda included the new TEN-T regulation, the use of alternative fuels and the impact on waste management from vessels, the new CDNI transaction system, a new tariff for port dues for the reception and handling of ship-generated waste in Bulgaria, and the development of the draft standard ‘Ship-generated waste management and handling on inland waterway vessels’ (ISO/TC 8/SC 2). Special attention was paid to using HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). It was noted that using the HVO provisions of Part A of the CDNI Implementation Regulation and the DC Recommendations would remain in force.

The Secretariat provided updates on the infrastructure database established on the Danube for the collection and disposal of ship waste (the interactive map). Following the proposal by the Ukrainian delegation, the database will provide statistical data by DC member states on the total amount of waste collected in accordance with the DC Recommendation on an annual basis.

For the purpose of sharing best practices in the area of waste management in navigation, viadonau presented its experience with the disposal of ship-generated waste on the Austrian part of the Danube for both cargo and passenger ships.

During the debate, the experts noted that the DC Recommendation represents a comprehensive model that takes into account the specifics of each country and introduces new norms and requirements. The next Expert Meeting on Ship-generated waste will take place in March 2026.

Presentations:

Alexandra Sulekova viadonau – Disposal of ship-generated waste on the Austrian part of the Danube
Dejan Trifunovic DC – Expert Meeting on Ship-generated waste
Julia Schoppe CDNI – Financing model and digital payment system for part A
Ventsislav Krastev BGPORTS – Tariff on port dues for the reception and handling of ship-generated waste collected by the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company
Victoria Ivanova UNECE – ISO Standard 24146 Ships and marine technology – Shipboard waste on inland navigation vessels