Eu Council News

More renewable and low-carbon fuels will reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime sector in the EU following the adoption of the FuelEU Maritime initiative by the EU Council.The main objective of the FuelEU maritime initiative, as a key part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, is to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector, while ensuring the smooth operation of maritime traffic…

Cyprus is ready to engage in talks with Turkey to resolve differences but only "without blackmail and threats", President Nicos Anastasiades said on Wednesday.The two countries are locked in a dispute over drilling rights in the Mediterranean, and Turkey said on Tuesday it had extended a drilling vessel's operations in disputed waters off Cyprus until Oct. 12."Nicosia has been always ready for a dialogue but for that ... to be effective, it needs to be clearly defined based on international law…

European lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to include international carbon emissions from the maritime sector in the EU carbon market, targeting an industry that does not yet pay for its pollution.They also called for binding targets for shipping companies to reduce the annual average CO2 emissions of all ships when in operation, by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, going further than an original European Commission proposal.Pollution from ships plying international waters usually escapes countries’ domestic emissions-cutting targets…

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU's financing department, will bar funding for most fossil fuel projects to become the world’s first ‘“climate bank”.The bank will end its financing of oil, gas, and coal projects after 2021, and will accelerate clean energy innovation, energy efficiency and renewables. EIB Group financing will unlock EUR 1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainable investment in the decade to 2030, it said.Over the last five years the European Investment Bank has provided more than EUR 65 billion of financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy distribution.“Climate is the top issue on the political agenda of our time,” said EIB President Werner Hoyer.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged general cargo ship M/V Sara has been banned from Paris MoU ports after a number of “serious violations” were discovered during an inspection.The vessel was detained in port Monfalcone (Italy) on 3 September 2019. This is the third detention in the Paris MoU region within the last 24 months. The ship flies the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis which is grey on the current Paris MoU WGB list."Therefore under the provisions of section 4 of the Paris MoU, Article 16 of EU Council Directive 2009/16/EC, the ship will be refused further access to any port and anchorage in the Paris MOU region, except a port and anchorage of the ship’s flag State…

The British Ports Association has published a new strategic report - ‘A Brexit Dividend’, which calls on the UK Government to deliver on the Prime Minister’s pledge of ‘frictionless’ trade after Brexit. Following Monday's (March 19) agreement between UK and EU negotiators on the terms of a transition deal and ahead of the EU Council meeting later this week, the British Ports Association has published ‘A Brexit Dividend’. Ports are calling for a pragmatic deal with the EU on both customs and regulatory recognition that allows both British and European businesses to get their goods across borders as quickly as possible. ‘A Brexit Dividend’ outlines the potential opportunities for ports.

M/V Acorus vessel was detained in Port of Asprogirpos (Elefsis) - Greece on 6 July 2017. This is the third detention in the Paris MoU region within the last 36 months. The ship flies the flag of Moldova Republic, which is black on the current Paris MoU WGB list. "Therefore under the provisions of section 4 of the Paris MoU, Article 16 of EU Council Directive 2009/16/EC, the ship will be refused further access to any port and anchorage in the Paris MOU region, except a port and anchorage of the ship’s flag State," said a release from  Paris MoU. This refusal of access will become applicable immediately after the ship is authorized to leave this port and anchorage. As this is the first refusal of access order the period of the refusal of access will be 3 months.

By majority vote, the Members of the European Parliament have agreed to include shipping in the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) Directive as of 2023, unless there is a comparable system agreed under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by the end of 2021. “INTERTANKO and its Members consider the EU Parliament’s ambition as totally counter-productive,” said INTERTANKO Technical Director Dragos Rauta. The EU Parliament’s move could be perceived as “urging” IMO to accelerate its rule development. However, the IMO Roadmap, adopted in October 2016, already clearly defines tasks and timelines for the development of regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.

On 23 January, the Council of Ministers adopted the Port Regulation, which concludes the procedure at first reading. The European Parliament voted on 14 December 2016. The legal act will be signed by both institutions in mid-February and published in the EU Official Journal a few weeks later. It will enter into force 20 days after its publication. The principles set out in the Regulation will apply 2 years after the entry into force. This means that by March 2019 these rules will have to be applied in all TEN-T ports of the European Union. The regulation will make it easier for new providers of certain port services to enter the market. It will create a more level playing field and reduce legal uncertainties for ports, port service providers and investors.

The vessel M/S "CITY OF TOKYO" was detained in Antwerp (Belgium) on 23rd October 2015 and left the port of Antwerp on 21st October 2016 but failed to call at the repair yard in Dubai as agreed, before 30th November 2016. The ship flies the flag of  Panama, which is white on the current Paris MoU WGB list. Your attention is drawn to the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Paris MOU, Article 21.6 of EU Council Directive 2009/16/EC1, which allow access to a specific port and anchorage in the event of force majeur or overriding safety considerations, or to reduce or minimize the risk of pollution or to have deficiencies rectified, provided…

M/s City of Tokyo vessel was detained in Antwerp (Belgium) on 23rd October 2015 and left the port of Antwerp on 21st October 2016 but failed to call at the repair yard in Dubai as agreed, before 30th November 2016. The ship flies the flag of  Panama, which is white on the current Paris MoU WGB list. Your attention is drawn to the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Paris MOU, Article 21.6 of EU Council Directive 2009/16/EC1, which allow access to a specific port and anchorage in the event of force majeur or overriding safety considerations, or to reduce or minimize the risk of pollution or to have deficiencies rectified, provided that adequate…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has welcomed the extension of EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, following a decision by the EU Council, which will continue to see military forces deployed for counter piracy operations in the Western Indian Ocean until December 2018. ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe said “The presence of military forces is an essential component of the package of government actions that has helped to suppress the activities of Somali pirates, in support of the protective measures that continue to be taken by the shipping industry. “While other security concerns now draw the attention of the international community…

Russian tankers have smuggled jet fuel to Syria through EU waters, bolstering military supplies to a war-torn country where Moscow is carrying out air strikes in support of the government, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. At least two Russian-flagged ships made deliveries - which contravene EU sanctions - via Cyprus, an intelligence source with a European Union government told Reuters. There was a sharp increase in shipments in October, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. A separate shipping source familiar with the movements of the Russian-flagged vessels said the ships visited Cypriot and Greek ports before delivering fuel to Syria.

India blamed Italy for delaying the repatriation of an Italian marine who has been detained in Delhi for four years as Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi arrived at a summit with the EU in Brussels hoping to defuse the long-running row. In 2012, India arrested two Italian marines who were escorting an oil tanker on suspicion of shooting dead two fishermen they mistook for pirates. Though they were not charged, the pair were barred from leaving India. Massimiliano Latorre was allowed to return home last year for medical treatment. But Salvatore Girone has been confined to Delhi, where he lives at the Italian ambassador's residence and reports regularly to police.

The decision of the EU Council to launch EUNAVFOR Med* was today strongly welcomed by BIMCO, following the association’s statement on 24 April calling for an extension of Operation Triton’s geographical reach. BIMCO’s April statement highlighted the risks to the health, safety and security of seafarers who assist distressed migrants in increasingly large numbers – and that merchant shipping is not equipped to handle the humanitarian crisis at sea caused by the levels of migration in the Mediterranean. “It is reassuring to see the efforts of EU leaders continuing to address this crisis – and now beyond the search and rescue mission of…

The European Union Council adopted a regulation yesterday to finance the actions of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in the field of response to marine pollution caused by ships and oil and gas installations in the years 2014-2020. Yesterday’s final adoption of the legislative act by the Council follows an agreement reached at first reading with the European Parliament earlier this year. The regulation will enter into force on the day after its publication in the EU Official Journal, which is expected to take place within the next few days. It will apply retroactively, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020. The financial envelope for EMSA's tasks for the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020 will be EUR 160.5 million expressed in current prices.

Rutter Technologies Inc. has received authority to affix the Mark of Conformity (wheelmark) that is granted by the EU to its voyage data recorders (VDRs). The wheelmark signifies that the Rutter VDR-100 is compliant with the EU Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment, also known as the Marine Equipment Directive (MED). Now that the first date for mandatory carriage has passed (July 1st, 2002), the VDR has moved from Annex 2 to Annex 1 of the MED and the wheelmark will be required to sell VDRs. The Rutter VDR-100 is the first voyage data recorder in the world to receive this distinction. The wheelmark was granted on the basis of…

The European Commission (EC) issued the final report on The Application of Competition Rules to Liner Shipping . The report concludes that repealing the EU block exemption for liner shipping would lead to moderate price declines and would have a positive impact on service reliability. The report does recommend, though, that the liner companies be allowed to engage in limited information exchange, but not as extensive as the liner companies have proposed. According to the EC Press Release accompanying the report, the review process will culminate with a Commission proposal to the EU’s Council of Ministers to repeal the Block Exemption Regulation by the end of the year.

Oil & Gas Regulators Respond to Recent Pollution Incidents by Reviewing their Regulatory Regimes. In response to the spate of significant pollution incidents involving oil & gas exploration, production and transportation that have hit the headlines in recent years, a number of national and international regulators have taken the opportunity to review their regulatory regimes. This article provides an update on the new Community-wide regulations that have been proposed by the European Commission, the regulatory reform that has occurred in Australia and the possible reforms in New Zealand.

Poland is the 26th ILO member State and the seventh EU member State to have ratified the Convention. Poland has a fleet of over 180 vessels and supplies over 22,000 seafarers to international shipping while in 2011 it was the world’s sixth largest ship-building country for cargo carrying ships. In welcoming the ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Poland, Ms. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the International Labour Standards Department, stated: “The ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Poland, a labour-supplying country with lengthy maritime tradition, is a major step toward bringing this landmark Convention into force. Poland joins today the group of those maritime nations whose commitment and leadership will permit the MLC…

Piracy in the Western Indian Ocean has been a growing threat to security, international shipping and development since the mid-2000s. While bearing all aspects of organized crime, piracy is a complex issue that can only be overcome by combining political and diplomatic efforts with military and legal action, development assistance and strong international coordination. With all these tools at its disposal, the European Union (EU) is in a unique position to contribute to international efforts, and addresses that challenge through a “comprehensive approach” tackling both current symptoms and root causes of the problem. The EU’s engagement in the Horn of Africa is defined by the region’s geo-strategic importance…

The European Commission propose to grant €2-million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 450 redundant workers in the shipbuilding ancillary industry in Galicia get back into employment. The funds, requested by the Spanish authorities, would help former workers from 35 small and medium sized enterprises. The proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for approval. EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor commented: "The crisis has transformed the shipbuilding sector and much of the industry is moving to low-cost areas, particularly in Asia.

Economic sanctions, imposed by national and international governments for a variety of political reasons, can be snare traps for unsuspecting maritime enterprises. For the maritime industry, port calls in any nation against which sanctions have been imposed should be undertaken with caution. As this article illustrates, there are additional ways to run afoul of economic sanctions, but trading in a prohibited manner with a sanctioned nation is the most common. From the maritime perspective, economic sanctions come in three flavors.