The Cutting Edge of Global Regulations for Chemical Cargoes
Veson Nautical is proud of the experience and expertise of our workforce. Principal Product Manager for our Milbros product, Capt. Caspar Lavall , recently attended a pivotal session at the International Maritime Organization 's 30th session of the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals (ESPH) in London. We caught up with Caspar to get an insider view on proceedings, including what makes him such a valuable voice in global dangerous goods regulation and a worthy inheritor of the nickname “Mr. Milbros."?
Q: Please introduce yourself to our audience and give a brief introduction to your background in chemical shipping.?
I’ve been shipping since 1997, so it’s been quite a journey. I started as a cadet and worked my way up to captain by the age of 28. I sailed exclusively on product, chemical, and parcel tankers of all sizes, from 2,500 dwt to 80,000 dwt, worldwide. My career also includes time in the Danish Navy, where I worked as an operations officer. Afterward, I became a Marine Superintendent responsible for vetting and port state control, and then moved into shore-based roles, overseeing operations for companies handling chemical and gas tankers. In 2012, I transitioned fully to shore-side work, including managing newbuild site teams in China, and holding senior operations roles, finally joining Veson Nautical as the Principal Product Manager for Milbros in 2022.?
Q: How do you describe Milbros and what does your role involve??
Milbros is the industry’s largest and most reliable commodity database focused on liquid bulk cargoes, with over 14,700 products – if you pump it, we have it on our database. We also advise our clients on commodity information both Annex I (Oil) and Annex II (Chemical), safety of handling on loading/discharging and carriage, tank cleaning, and international legislation on product handling.?
My role is wide ranging, but a big part is to ensure that Milbros stays ahead of industry regulations and best practices. I also oversee maintaining the quality and accuracy of the database so that our clients, mostly shipping companies, can operate safely and in compliance with the latest standards.?
Q: What took you to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) last week??
I spent the week with the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC) delegation contributing to the 30th session of the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals (ESPH) Working Group. Our focus was on evaluating the safety and pollution hazards of chemicals, particularly around prewash procedures for certain cargoes like paraffin wax.??
Q: How will this potentially impact Milbros clients??
Our clients rely on Milbros to keep them compliant with international regulations and manage DG efficiently, and that’s why my participation is so important. Dutch authorities are pushing for stricter prewash requirements, which could significantly increase the time and costs involved in cleaning ships after carrying these cargoes. The proposed changes could mean that instead of a standard prewash, operators would need to conduct a full cleaning process, which can take up to five or six hours per tank.?
We are advocating for solutions that are feasible for operators, and Milbros will be updated accordingly so our clients can adjust their operations in line with any new requirements.?
Q: Are you involved in other regulatory discussions outside of the IMO??
Yes, I’m also involved with the US Coast Guard’s National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (NCTSAC). This group brings together industry leaders, classification societies, and government bodies to discuss regulatory changes. The goal is to make sure that regulations are not only safe but also practical for the industry to implement. The US Coast Guard has been very receptive to industry feedback, recognizing that impractical regulations are problematic. My role there is to share real-world knowledge from the shipping industry to help shape effective regulations.?
Q: What technological innovations are you most excited about in this area??
One innovation I’m really excited about is the use of UV graph technology for tank cleaning. This uses light beams to measure the cleanliness of tanks in real time. It allows operators to stop cleaning as soon as the tanks are clean, instead of relying on arbitrary or estimated cleaning times, or waiting for a physical inspection. It’s already being championed by major chemical companies, which means ships could save multiple hours in port and reduce environmental impact by not over-washing tanks. Milbros is set up to support this shift by becoming a trusted platform for making UV graph results available to the relevant authorities.?
I’d say the key takeaway is that staying ahead of regulatory changes is critical, and that’s what Milbros is here for. Whether it’s new prewash requirements or the adoption of UV graph technology, we’re committed to ensuring our clients have the most accurate and up-to-date information to operate efficiently and safely. My subsidiary role at the IMO and my work with the DGAC and US Coast Guard are all about making sure the industry's voice is heard in shaping those changes.?
Q. Finally, who is Mr. Milbros??
My predecessor, Capt. Soren Ibsen, was instrumental in the earlier development and popularity of Milbros and he became known as Mr. Milbros among many industry colleagues and clients. His shoes are big to fill, but I enjoy the challenge!?