Methodological support for obtaining a license for companies to carry out loading and unloading operations involving dangerous goods on inland waterways and in seaports

The procedure for granting licenses to companies to carry out loading and unloading operations involving dangerous goods on inland waterways and in seaports is carried out in accordance with Federal Law № 99-FZ dated May 4, 2011, "On Licensing Certain Types of Activities," based on the Regulation on Licensing Loading and Unloading Operations Related to Dangerous Goods on Inland Waterways and in Seaports, approved by Russian Government Resolution № 2111 dated November 30, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation).

According to the Regulation, loading and unloading activities include the following:

• transshipment of dangerous goods on inland waterway transport from one means of transport to another means of transport (one of which is a vessel) directly and/or through a warehouse or bunkering depot (except for bunkering operations, vessel pauses, and vessel unloading in an emergency);
• Transshipment of dangerous goods in seaports from one means of transport to another means of transport (one of which is a vessel) directly and/or through a warehouse, oil depot, or bunkering depot (except for bunkering operations, vessel pauses, and vessel unloading in an emergency).

Experts from the International Dangerous Goods in Containers Association (IDGCA NP) and its subsidiaries, including the International Staff Training Center (ISTC), based on agreements concluded with license applicants conduct a preliminary review of the documents submitted to the licensing authority and, if necessary, develop missing documents or revises existing ones under an additional agreement. Furthermore, if necessary, also under an additional agreement, experts from the IDGCA and the ISTC conduct a preliminary audit of the license applicant's facilities and, based on the audit results, develop recommendations for addressing any identified deficiencies.

Dozens of companies have employed this service from the IDGCA and the ISTC. As a result, licensing authorities have raised no objections during the licensing process, and, accordingly, the timeframes for issuing licenses for the right to carry out loading and unloading operations involving dangerous goods on inland waterways and in seaports have been significantly reduced.