Tag: EU

Rights of Passengers when Travelling by Sea and Inland Waterway

EU aiming to be at the forefront of efforts to reduce marine litter

EU Naval Force and NATO Counter Piracy Commanders Meet At Sea

Philippines asks European Union officials to protect 91,000 seafarer jobs on European vessels

EU implements IMO s rules on sulphur except major deviation on global limits in 2020

NGOs call on EU governments to protect developing countries against hazardous shipbreaking waste

Directive 1999/32/EC re the sulphur content of marine fuels The Council adopted yesterday a directive amending directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels (PE-CONS 31/12). Emissions from shipping due to the combustion of marine fuels with a high sulphur content contribute to air pollution in the form of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, which harm human health and contribute to acidification. The directive aims therefore to reduce these emissions considerably and to provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment by rendering the most recent International Maritime Organisation (IMO) rules on marine fuel standards mandatory in the EU, thereby amending Directive 1999/32/EC.The key elements of the directive are:- In line with the Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, the limits for the sulphur content of marine fuels used in designated SO2 Emission Control Areas (SECAs) will be 1% until 31 December 2014 and 0.10% as from 1 January 2015. The IMO standard of 0,50 % for sulphur limits outside SECAs will be mandatory in EU waters by 2020. This will also be valid for passenger ships operating outside SECAs to which the current regime of 1,50 % applies until that date. A general ...

EU law into line with the revised standards set by IMO Parliament endorsed crucial improvements to minimum levels of training, updated medical fitness requirements and tougher certification standards for seafarers on Tuesday. This will bring EU law into line with the revised standards set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and adopted by member states.The IMO's recent update of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarer's (STCWS) made significant changes designed to prevent fraud in obtaining certificates, raise medical standards and improve security training, including measures related to piracy and armed robbery.MEPs have also ensured that the new rules will preserve the EU's stricter limits on exemptions to minimum rest periods and they insist that the requirements for rest periods must be maintained in the case of drill.In addition, the text, which has been agreed with the Council, mandates the Commission to collect data on personnel operating in EU waters, for statistical purposes, in order to get a better picture of the seafarer profession in Europe.The legislation was adopted 619 votes in favour to 16 against and 16 abstentionsSource: EUROPA

The following is an outline of Regulations regarding maritime security in European ports Ship and port facility security : Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility securityThe main objective of this Regulation is to implement Community measures aimed at enhancing the security of ships through measures of preventive nature used in international trade and associated port facilities in the face of threats of intentional unlawful acts (including piracy and armed robbery at sea). The Regulation provides a basis for the harmonised interpretation and implementation and Community monitoring of the special measures to enhance maritime security adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2002, which amended the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) and established the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). The Regulation makes mandatory a number of recommendations introduced into Part B of the ISPS Code.Port Security Directive : Directive 2005/65/EC on enhancing port securityThe Directive complements the security measures introduced by Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 by making an entire port subject to a security regime. In order to obtain maximum protection for maritime and port activities, measures should be taken that cover all ports within ...

EU sanctions on import of natural gas from Iran