Tag: EU

A very important first step for a truly global reduction in CO2 emissions The big question now emanating from the IMO's landmark MEPC 62 meeting to make energy efficiency standards mandatory in shipping is what the reaction of the European Union will be, and whether global mandatory EEDI will be enough to ward off Brussels' own action to cut shipping emissions. The answer as can best be judged at this stage is probably 'No'.The European Commission is in the process of developing a regulatory proposal to cover emissions from international shipping in its region. It says progress has been too slow on a global regulation from IMO or the UN climate convention (UNFCCC). It wants to see some substantial action on reducing emissions in shipping imposing steep cuts on its land-based high-emitting industries; in the order of 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.The Commission has plainly stated before that if such steps are not taken at a global level by the end of 2011 then it will finalise a proposal in early 2012 and aim to have it take effect possibly as soon as 2013. In keeping with its own action, Brussels wants to see more extensive market-based ...

EEDI lead to less CO2 emissions approximately 25-30% reductions by 2030 The European Commission congratulates the International Maritime Organization and its Member States on this first and major achievement on a technical measure to limit CO2 emissions from international maritime transport the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Design Index. It is the first globally binding measure to improve energy efficiency of new ships and limit CO2 emissions from international maritime transport.The newly adopted Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) sets technical standards for improving the energy efficiency of certain categories of new ships which will, in turn, lead to less CO2 emissions approximately 25-30% reductions by 2030 compared to Business as Usual (BAU).The EEDI will become mandatory from 2015, and will require a minimum energy efficiency level for different ship types and sizes. The EEDI will be applied to the largest segments of the world merchant fleet, and is expected to cover as much as 70% of emissions from new ships.I am very pleased by the adoption of EEDI at the International Maritime Organizations (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee today. This is a very important signal that the maritime community is taking seriously its role in global efforts to reduce greenhouse ...

By enforcing mandatory slower steaming on ships destined for EU ports The European Union will take measures for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by enforcing mandatory slower steaming on ships destined for EU ports in case the International Maritime Organization fails to proceed. One measure that the Europan Commission has, in order to cut down CO2 emissions, is to suggest a potential mandatory speed reduction for all ships entering EU ports.The member states and lobby groups at the International Maritime Organization, which are taking part in this weeks meeting, have taken into consideration that they ought to agree on measures regarding the reduction of shippings greenhouse gas emissions. Even if they agreed for the energy efficiency design index, there is still the likelihood that Brussels will find this measure insufficient and will decide to proceed alone by taking its own decisions.Anyone citizen living in European Union knows that there is a goal of reducing the regions greenhouse gases by 30% by 2030, based on the 1990 levels. However, shipping is also expected to play its role in this goal. That is the reason why the Commission is waiting to see if the IMO is able to find solutions to this environmental ...

IT systems are currently experiencing problems On 1 January 2011 it became mandatory to electronically submit Advance Cargo Declarations to relevant customs authorities when entering the area of the EU Customs Union.In the past six months this requirement has caused some headaces to traders, as the individual nationalIT systems that were supposed to be the platform for submissions of cargo declarations were different for each EU member state, and were not always functioning properly.The Greek IT systems are currently experiencing problems when lodging electronic Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) in vast volumes. To mitigate the effects hereof, the European Commission, through the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)has advised thatsome EU Mediterranean Member States (i.e. Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Cyprus, Malta) can temporarily serve for the lodgement of ENS on behalf of Greece.Traders can therefore follow two options:a) Continue to use interfaces and services currently offered by Greek customs;b) Request the Greek customs to be allowed to use a temporary solution whereby all the ENS to be lodged in Greece will be lodged in other EUmember statewhere the trader has an electronic connection to customs. In this case, the trader will declare an alternative location (in a different member state) as Office ...

The European Commission tightens up the guidelines for member states Brussels will give new guidelines to Port State Control regarding the enforcement of the low-sulphur rules while the European Commission will put forward the revision of the European Unions 2005 sulphur directive, which it will be in accordance with the 2015 and 2020 emission deadlines made by the IMO.A member state which has transposed the directive into its own laws then it is has to inform the commission and prove conformity. A tick box approach will ensure if the general meaning of the directive is the same in any national legislative text. This text has to be in accordance with the EU and the IMO. The percentage of sulphur in a fuel used in the emission control areas is below 0.1%and the other waters of Europe below 3.5% as of next year, and 0.5% as of 2020. The commission will then begin to ensure that member states properly enforce this text. It is now producing stricter guidelines to ensure that any non-compliance by vessels is detected.The commission is also looking to produce guidelines on how each member state reports its data. Brussels now wants to tighten up to ensure that ...

A global solution to limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry The European Union would prefer to have a global solution to limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry, officials said from Brussels.European Commission Vice President Siim Kallas met with Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard to discuss mechanisms intended to reduce greenhouse emissions from the shipping industry."For a global sector such as maritime transport, measures which are the most environmentally effective and make economic sense can best be achieved through the International Maritime Organization," Kallas said in a statement.Hedegaard agreed, saying it was "high time" for the IMO to broker an agreement. "Much as we prefer a global solution, the member states and the European Parliament have asked the commission to present a possible proposal to reduce shipping emissions for 2012 in the case that the IMO fails to find a solution," she said.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a related measure this week launched an initiative aimed at reducing pollution from the long-haul trucks that service U.S. ports.European leaders are expected to call for the adoption of an energy efficient index developed by the IMO at its next environmental protection conference in July.European member states agreed to ...

Lack of reporting threatens to impact the targeting of ships for PSC inspection The European Union has stated that it faces serious problems with its ship-monitoring services and nine member states have been requested to comply with regulation or face penalties.The lack of reporting threatens to impact the targeting of ships for port-state inspection.Many countries including Belgium, Estonia, France, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Finland and the UK have all been requested to comply with EU vessel-traffic monitoring regulation, which were made mandatory under the so-called Erika package of safety measures.SafeSeaNet was introduced under the EU ship-safety directive to allow the exchange of data between member states.In a statement, the EU said: "To be fully effective (The EU directive) requires joint efforts of all member states. Non-implementation of non-member states prevents the full benefits of the new regime from being realised. Examples of such benefits are faster and more effective decision-making when a maritime accident occurs, better ability to identify ships likely to present a safety or environmental risk, automatic identification and positions systems to reduce the risk of fishing vessels being rammed by merchant ships and better ability to track the movements of ships with dangerous or polluting cargoes."The Danish ...

Us stated its opposition Flag-state are highly opposed to European Union (EU) move to introduce mutual recognition of certification for ship machinery.US stated its opposition at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting last month and a growing number of flag states are ready show their contradiction towards the EU initiative.The debate is set to be taken forward to next month's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting.The opposition centres around concerns that non-EU flag states will have to accept marine equipment that has been approved through a system of mutual certification under which classification societies accept each other's certification without conducting their own survey. Under the current system, EU wants ship equipment to be individually certified on a case-by-case basis by the same classification society that certifies the hull.Other countries such as Panama, South Korea, Japan and Liberia are expected to join the US in arguing that accepting mutually certified ship machinery poses a threat to national sovereignty.It is also believed that mutual recognition will make European ship machinery more competitive and put them at a competitive advantage over Asian rivals.European Marine Equipment Council president Lars-Gorvell Dahall tells that the EU had the right to promote mutual ...

Increasing threats to security AS smaller craft, below the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code threshold, pose increasing threats to security as bomb carriers, the European Commission has appointed Sentinel Maritime to assess the impact of extending security measures to down to very small boats.The Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport-commissioned study will focus on the impact, including financial consequences, of extending security measures to ships which currently do not fall within the scope of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter XI/2 and the ISPS Code.The study named "Project Secure Seas" is, in part, a response to the growing concern that such ships may present 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 small craft on warship USS Cole and the tanker Limburg, smaller non-ISPS ships are frequently used in human trafficking as well as smuggling drugs and contraband.First, the company will determine the state of play of EU member states, then collate information on degree of compliance with Safety of Life (SOLAS) registry regulations. The study will also examine the possibility of introducing a computerised ship registry, which might include recreational/pleasure craft ...

It also amends the licensing process for the use of funds for humanitarian grounds HM Treasury have now issued an updated EU regulation 572/2011 that confirms that the six ports in Libya named below have been added to the sanctions list. It also amends the licensing processfor the use of funds for humanitarian grounds.Click on the link for the HM Treasury public notice relating to Regulation 572/2011 and here for the full regulation.HM Treasury has issued a circular outlining a number of changes to the EU sanctions regime as it applies to Libya. Please note:1. Listing of Libyan ports The EU published a Decision on 7 June 2011 that will affect trade with Libya as it sets out the EU's intention to designate six port authorities in Libya for an asset freeze. The asset freeze will take effect on the publication of an implementing Regulation. This is expected shortly. HMT will publish a notification when the asset freeze of the port authorities takes effect.The port authorities which will be subject to the asset freeze are:1. Port authority of Tripoli 2. Port authority of Al Khoms 3. Port authority of Brega 4. Port authority of Ras Lanuf 5. Port authority of ...