European Commission Directorate News

As the take-up of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as ship fuel in Europe is still largely in its early stages, DNV GL has provided a report for the EU providing recommendations on how to address barriers to wider adoption. By November 2016 all member states are required to submit national policy frameworks for the implementation of the EU alternative fuels Directive; the report’s recommendations are a useful aid in this, DNV GL said. Two key barriers to take-up of LNG as ship fuel are the gaps in the legislative or regulatory framework, and the lack of harmonized standards. DNV GL has undertaken an analysis and evaluation identifying the remaining gaps for completing an EU-wide framework for marine LNG distribution, bunkering and use.

As air emission requirements are becoming more stringent, one possible solution for reduced emissions is to use LNG as fuel for shipping. However take-up of LNG as ship fuel in Europe is still at an early stage. DNV GL has provided a report for the EU1 providing recommendations on how to address barriers to wider adoption. By November 2016 all member states have to submit national policy frameworks for the implementation of the EU alternative fuels Directive; the report’s recommendations are a useful aid in this. Two key barriers to take-up of LNG as ship fuel are the gaps in the legislative or regulatory framework, and the lack of harmonized standards.

Network of regional maritime technology cooperation centres to be established through €10 million funding contribution. An ambitious IMO project to establish a global network of Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) in developing countries is to go ahead thanks to a €10 million funding contribution from the European Commission (EC). The funds mobilised by the EC illustrate the EU's commitment to support the concrete implementation of a range of measures aimed at addressing energy efficiency and shipping emissions and, through this, contributing to the fight against climate change. This IMO energy-efficiency project is part…

Maritime summit between European Union, U.S. Representatives from the maritime regulatory authorities of the European Union, the People’s Republic of China and the United States met today in Brussels to discuss antitrust and regulatory issues in maritime transport, confirming a renewed intention to cooperate on these matters. Hosted by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition, this was the second official meeting between the three authorities, following the first maritime regulatory summit that took place in Washington in December 2013. The discussions focused on the global trend towards increased cooperation in the liner shipping market, as well as on regulatory and policy issues related to ports.

China's Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Recycling and Jiang Xiagang Changjiang Ship Recycling Yard, world’s two biggest ship scrap yards by capacity,  have applied for the inclusion of their facilities in the future EU list of Ship Recycling Facilities. Two leading Chinese ship recycling yards have applied for inclusion of their facilities in the future EU list of Ship Recycling Facilities, according to Chinese media. The official documents for the application were presented yesterday in Brussels to Mr. Julio Burgués, Head of the Unit Waste management & Recycling of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment by Mr Li Hongwei owner of Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Recycling Co., Ltd and Jiang Xiagang Changjiang Shiprecycling Yard.

Two Chinese ship recycling yards have applied for inclusion of their facilities in the future EU list of Ship Recycling Facilities. The official documents for the application were presented yesterday in Brussels to Julio Burgués, Head of the Unit Waste Management and Recycling of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment by Li Hongwei owner of Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Recycling Co., Ltd and Jiang Xiagang Changjiang Shiprecycling Yard. With a capacity of respectively 100 vessels (1.1 million Light Displacement Ton) and 120 vessels (1,2 million LDT) these two yards are the largest ship recycling facilities in the world. The application follows the new Ship Recycling Regulation of the European Commission which was adopted in November 2013.

Global Marketing Systems, Inc (GMS) has challenged the European Commission’s intention to ban ship recycling by beaching, by inviting the commission and a major representative group of top level shipping industry stakeholders to India to witness the recycling process first hand at one of the country’s best yards. Addressing an industry conference in London, Dr. Nikos Mikelis, nonexecutive director of GMS, said ship recycling yards were improving in Southeast Asia, and the best way to see this was to visit the yards in person.

ACCSEAS, an EU-funded project to support improved maritime access to the North Sea Region through minimizing navigational risk, welcomed over 80 regional and international shipping experts to Edinburgh for its second annual conference, held last week. The ACCSEAS Conference presented an array of e-Navigation test-bed solutions, all of which are aimed at increasing accessibility and improving navigational safety in the increasingly busy shipping waters of the North Sea Region.

Sentinel Maritime has been appointed by the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport to study the impact (including the financial consequences) of extending security measures to ships which currently do not fall within the scope of SOLAS Chapter XI/2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The Study has been given the name “Project SecureSeas.” The study is, in part, a response to the growing concern that such ships may pose as serious or more serious a threat than ships currently within the scope of the ISPS Code. Apart from the terrorist attacks carried out by “non-ISPS” vessels on the “USS Cole” and “MT Limburg”…

ton fuel premium in EU waters by 2005. It says shipping should act now to make credible alternative proposals for an emissions trading system, before the European Commission acts to tighten sulphur rules this summer. ships. They propose a consultation period ending summer 2002, followed by legislative changes which will come into force by 2005. sulphur (SOx) emissions from ships. There is no doubt that the proposals will have a very significant impact upon fuel costs for all types of ships arriving at or operating in Europe. A meeting attended by IBIA was told that ships trading internationally will need to be operating on 1.5% sulfur fuel when passing thorough EU member state's territorial waters of the North Sea and Baltic. Control Areas, (SECAs). so.

ABS has lodged a formal request with the IACS Council to direct the IACS Quality Secretary to undertake a Vertical Contract Audit of all ABS records relating to the tanker Prestige. the Spanish government. Energy and Transport, (DG TREN) and to Intertanko to participate in the audit. transparent action we are taking," said ABS President Robert D. Somerville. relating to this vessel. some clue to the possible initiating cause of the damage," Somerville said. quality system. initiating cause of the damage," said Somerville. and procedures. this casualty," Somerville added.