Mr Nestor Galley, the Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has appealed to stevedoring and shipping companies to be abreast with the provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
This, he said, would ensure the speedy discharge and handling of dangerous cargoes.
Mr Galley, who was opening of a Workshop on the Handling of Dangerous Cargoes on Monday, said the revision of the Code by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) enjoined them to re-train their staff to enable them to comply with the revised provisions of the Code.
The five-day Workshop is jointly organised by GPHA and IMO to build the capacity of participants to understand the issues involved and their roles in the carriage and handling of dangerous and solid bulk.
It will also equip them with knowledge, skills and attitudes required for the speedy discharge and handling of cargoes, which will translate into high performance and quick turn around of vessels.
Mr Galley said it was GPHA’s responsibility as an Authority to ensure the safety of life and property at the Ports.
Mr Irfan Rahim, Head of the Cargoes Section of the Maritime Safety Division of IMO at the United Nations, said it was gratifying that the growth in international trade had seen a remarkable increase over the years.
He said what it meant was that trade in dangerous goods and solid bulk cargoes had also gone up, coupled with new developments in science and technology, and the identification and development of new chemicals and substances.
For these reasons, Mr Rahim said, it was imperative to amend existing provisions governing the handling of such cargoes to keep abreast with those new developments.