Dangerous goods expertise in Beirut
We can all still remember the terrible disaster in the port of Beirut on 4 August last year, when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded and reduced entire parts of the city to rubble. Around 200 people lost their lives, countless people were injured and the long-term traumatic consequences for the city's population are still difficult to predict.
In the meantime, 52 shipping containers have been identified in the port of Beirut that contain other hazardous substances, some of which are severely damaged. Two colleagues from HÖPPNER have been on site for eight weeks and initially inspected the cargo. What hazardous substances are present? How badly damaged is the packaging? What dangers do the substances pose? How high is the risk of hazardous substances escaping? All these questions had to be answered promptly. Since the end of November, the damaged containers have been unloaded and the hazardous substances repackaged in safe containers approved for the transportation of dangerous goods.
HÖPPNER has developed the waste management concept for hazardous materials in the port of Beirut. In addition to inspecting the damaged containers on site, we are responsible for classifying the hazardous waste. We organize and supervise the salvage of the hazardous materials and are responsible for the repackaging and the safety of the workers on site. HÖPPNER is also involved in the notification process for cross-border shipments of hazardous waste. Together with Combi Lift from Bremen, the hazardous materials will then be transferred to Europe for specific disposal.
Michael Wentler, Managing Director of Höppner Management & Consultant GmbH: "Accidents are always terrible events. However, the situation here exceeds anything I have ever seen in terms of consequential damage and errors in the storage of hazardous substances and I am very shocked by the people affected. We are now doing everything we can to initiate the professional disposal of all hazardous substances here in the port and hope to be able to make our contribution to restoring normality for the local population."
The project in Beirut is a top priority. As a result of the explosion and the damage caused, national and international attention is now being focused on the treatment and disposal of other potentially hazardous substances stored in the port. The professional and appropriate salvage, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances after accidents is a highly specialized field and requires expertise in various areas. As an environmental, waste and occupational safety professional, HÖPPNER can draw on many years of experience in hazardous goods management following accidents. The local partners, the owner of the Assouad Group, Mr. Elias Assouad, the German Ambassador in Beirut, Mr. Andreas Kindl, the General of the Lebanese Army, the Head of the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon and the President of the Port of Beirut, were able to gain an impression of this expertise at the beginning of November. Together with Combi Lift Salvage GmbH & Co. KG, the contract for the salvage, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste was signed with the Port of Beirut.
By the end of January 2021, the repackaging and loading of the hazardous substances is to be carried out under strict safety precautions. So far, around 1,000 buckets of sodium hydroxide, 345 IBC containers with various chemicals such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetone and thinner as well as around 160 drums of methyl bromide have been filled and prepared for transportation. Once notification has been given, a Combilift cargo ship will be sent on its way to transport the hazardous waste to Wilhelmshaven. The company Nehlsen Industrie Service GmbH & Co. KG takes over the waste in Wilhelmshaven and transports it to the various disposal facilities for further treatment.