2025 - Platform Zero Incidents

Correct connection bunkering

21 Juli 2025/0 Kommentare/in News, Nieuws/von Kristel

Recommendation Leads to Change in ESTRIN 2025: Important Step Towards Safer Bunkering

A recommendation from the “Properly Connected Bunkering” working group – a collaboration between NOVE, KBN, and PZI – has led to a change in European inland navigation regulations. The newly published ESTRIN 2025 (Article 8.06, paragraph 5) now includes a technical measure aimed at preventing incorrect fuel hose connections during bunkering. This amendment (effective from 1 January 2026) is an important step towards safer bunkering and demonstrates that targeted cooperation between industry partners can lead to real, structural improvements.

Although work on improving safety is not always visible, this is a concrete and visible result. “This is an example of how industry partners can achieve real changes in regulations through consultation and knowledge sharing,” says Maurits van der Linde, Safety and Dangerous Goods Policy Advisor at KBN. PZI and NOVE played an important role as co-initiators, while KBN led the political process to have the change officially included in the ESTRIN standard.

Incorrect Connection: Small Mistake, Big Consequences
The recommendation was prompted by a series of incidents where incorrect fuel hose connections had serious consequences. In 2012, two people were seriously injured, and in 2019, a fire broke out in an engine room. There have also been many smaller incidents, including fuel spills, operational delays, and even threats to the operating licenses of bunkering stations.

Although color coding was previously introduced (see ESI-II-14), in practice, visual signals alone have proven insufficient. “People make mistakes for many reasons: stress, fatigue, time pressure, or unclear instructions. A technical adjustment that makes incorrect connections physically impossible is simply more effective,” says Kristel Reiling, Program Manager at PZI.

Technical Solution: Safer by Design
The new provision in ESTRIN now requires a standardized type of connection, minimizing the risk of errors when connecting hoses. This is a typical example of a ‘foolproof’ measure: not dependent on human action, but built into the design of the installation itself.

Stronger Together for Safety
PZI emphasizes that this development not only improves safety in the sector, but also shows what a well-functioning cooperation platform can achieve. “We are proud that we were able to contribute to this improvement through our practical experience and data collection. Together with NOVE, and thanks to the efforts of KBN, this is now legally established.”

The amendment in ESTRIN 2025 has now been officially published on the CESNI website (see: www.cesni.eu). PZI calls on all parties in the sector to prepare in time for the new requirements and to continue working together for a safer inland navigation sector.

New Best Practice Guideline: Calculating Loading Depth in Inland Shipping

3 April 2025/0 Kommentare/in News, Nieuws/von Kristel

At Platform Zero Incidents, our mission is to improve safety standards across the inland shipping industry. We are excited to announce the release of our latest Best Practice Guideline (BPG) on Calculating Loading Depth, designed to help shipping professionals enhance safety and efficiency during loading operations.

Why This Guideline Matters:
Loading depth plays a critical role in the safe navigation of vessels. The BPG provides a detailed explanation for a safe calculation of the loading depth on the Rhine.

Key Takeaways:
✔ Understanding the factors influencing loading depth
✔ Best practices for accurate calculations
✔ Practical examples and industry recommendations

📥 Download the full guideline here.

For more resources and industry insights, visit our library.

Press Release Dry Cargo and Passenger Group

16 Januar 2025/0 Kommentare/in Unkategorisiert/von Kristel

Zwijndrecht, Netherlands – January 14, 2025 – Platform Zero Incidents (PZI), an organization committed to improving safety in inland shipping, is excited to announce the launch of its Dry Cargo and Passenger Group. This new group expands PZI’s work, which has already successfully represented 90% of European tanker barges, to include dry cargo and passenger vessels, with the goal of enhancing safety throughout the European inland shipping industry.

PZI brings together vessel owners and operators to share knowledge and prevent incidents in the inland shipping sector. By focusing on dry cargo and passenger vessels, PZI aims to set higher safety standards and encourage a shared commitment to avoiding accidents. The first event in which both tank barging and dry cargo/passenger play a role is titled Ports in Focus: Seagoing Meets Inland, which will take place in March in Wageningen.

„We are very pleased to launch the Dry Cargo and Passenger Group,“ said Kristel Reiling, Program Manager at PZI. „This group allows us to work closely with these sectors and create programs that improve safety awareness across the industry.“

The new group will help members share best practices, analyze incidents, and learn from each other’s experiences. By promoting open communication, PZI hopes to identify safety challenges, find solutions, and create strategies to reduce risks and improve overall safety.

Major organizations, as well as smaller companies from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, have already contributed to set-up of this group. PZI invites all operators of dry cargo and passenger barges to join the group, as well as other stakeholders, to work together toward the shared goal of zero incidents.

With cooperation and proactive efforts, the inland shipping industry can continue to improve safety for both people and the environment. For more information about Platform Zero Incidents or joining the Dry Cargo and Passenger Group, please visit https://platformzeroincidents.com or email info@platformzeroincidents.com.

Archiv für das Jahr: 2025