Tag: EU

This package will include measures to ensure competition in port services The European Commission (EC) has announced a new initiative intended to regulate port services, following on from its two previous failed attempts (the first port package failed to pass through the legislative procedure in 2003, and the second port package was again rejected in 2006).The Commission's intention has already been touched upon in the white paper on Transport, published in March 2011, and now EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas has confirmed the Commission's plans for new legislation applicable to ports. Speaking at an event in Rotterdam on 8 September, Kallas revealed the Commission's intention to come forward with a package of corresponding proposals in 2013.According to Kallas, this third port package will include measures to ensure competition in port services to streamline administrative procedures. The package will also to improve the transparency of port financing in order to avoid any distortions of competition.As a next step, Kallas announced that a conference on the future of European ports will take place in 2012. Following this, the Commission will launch a broad public consultation and carry out an in-depth impact assessment before setting out its proposals in 2013.Source : INTERTANKO

Soon aviation in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) will take effect It is now only a few months before the inclusion of aviation in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) will take effect, and international opposition is mounting. In particular, opponents stress that the EU has no jurisdiction to "tax" flights which do not take place in EU Member State airspace.This regional measure is the first of its kind and has been criticised by airlines and third country governments. Since the adoption of the legislation in 2009 that obliges all flights arriving at, or departing from, a European airport to participate in the EU-ETS, a group of countries led by the US, Canada and China has openly criticised the inclusion in the EU-ETS of aircraft in their register.China has already raised the possibility of blocking its airspace to EU carriers if the EU insists on the inclusion of Chinese carriers in the scheme. Furthermore, the US Air Transport Association has lodged a case against the EU-ETS at the UK High Court, which has been referred to the Court of Justice of the EU for a so-called Preliminary Ruling (expected early in 2012).Furthermore, the point is made that the imposition ...

STCW will include higher standards for medical fitness, fitness for duty and alcohol abuse On 14 September the European Commission adopted a proposal to amend existing Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers to bring it in line with the recently updated International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).The 2007 so-called Manila Amendments to the STCW include higher standards for medical fitness, fitness for duty and alcohol abuse, new professional profiles and security training for seafarers. The new international standard will be applicable from 1 January 2012. The main purpose of the review of Directive 2008/106/EC is therefore to ensure a uniform application of the updated STCW by the EU Member States. The proposed implementation deadline at EU level is on 31 December 2012.Siim Kallas, Commission Vice-President in charge of Transport, said: "As maritime transport is a global industry, it is vital to also set minimum standards for training on an international scale." This statement is also reflected in the actual proposal, which is to the largest extent a one-to-one transposition of the Manila Amendments into EU law.Furthermore, the Commission proposal suggests moderate changes to existing European provisions concerning the recognition of ...

Europe faces greater risks because of the impacts of cliclimate change on the seas around Europeans face greater risk of illness, property damage and job losses because of the impacts of climate change on the seas around them, a new report suggests.Worried citizens, whose biggest related top-of-mind concerns are sea level rise and coastal erosion, are taking personal actions to reduce carbon emissions. However, they largely blame climate change on other groups of people or nations and assign governments and industry responsibility for mitigating the problem (though they perceive government and industry as ineffective on the issue).Those are among the conclusions after scientists synthesized an extensive collection of academic papers published since 1998 on climate change and Europe's marine environments, combined with a groundbreaking companion poll of Europeans on the issues, commissioned as part of Project CLAMER, a collaboration of 17 European marine institutes.The 200-page synthesis of more than 100 EU-funded projects, the public survey, a new book based on the scientific findings, and a major new documentary film will be featured at CLAMER's wrap-up meeting Sept. 14-15 in Brussels.The research distillation captures a suite of documented and forecast physical, chemical and biological marine changes with far-reaching consequences, including sea-level ...

Oil fields in European seas should only be allowed under conditions Development of new gas or oil fields in European seas should only be allowed if the company has prepared an adequate emergency plan and has sufficient funds to repair possible damage to the environment, says a resolution passed by Parliament on Tuesday.Site-specific plans for all drilling, which would have to be approved by the relevant Member State before any operation begins, would better protect the environment, says the resolution, which seeks to influence new draft legislation to be tabled by the European Commission this autumn. These emergency plans should identify potential hazards, assess pollution sources and effects and outline a response strategy in the event of an accident."Offshore sources is the world's fourth largest production area and it is crucial to meeting Europe's energy needs and our energy security. Every site, every operation should be assessed for its specific risk and informed regulators should only allow drilling to occur if they are comfortable that the risks of that site can be and are being managed and this should be the case in the Arctic and indeed in every sea area" said the rapporteur, Vicky Ford (ECR, UK)Financial liabilityThe resolution ...

Training in line with recently updated international rules The European Commission has adopted a proposal to bring the European Union directive on the training of seafarers in line with recently updated international rules. International rules set minimum standards, while EU rules ensure their enforcement in the EU.The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the "STCW Convention") was concluded in 1978 among the countries that are members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency.The convention deals with the requirements for training of seafarers (mainly officers) and the relevant certification. The convention was integrated into EU law for the first time in the 1990s and updated later when the convention was amended.In 2007 the IMO launched a review of the STCW Convention, which resulted in the adoption of a series of significant amendments. These so-called "Manila amendments" to the convention concern:updated standards for medical fitness, fitness for duty and alcohol abuse;introduction of new professional profiles: "able seafarers" and "electro-technical officers";security-related training for all seafarers;simpler and clearer types of certificates.After 1 January 2012 seafarers will have to be trained according to the new standards.EU Member States are also parties to the STCW Convention. Therefore, the proposal ...

Informing EC of corrective measures which will improve maritime training To keep Filipino seamen crewing on European ships, the Philippines has formally informed the European Commission (EC) of corrective measures it has taken to improve maritime training in the country, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said on Monday.Baldoz said Ambassador to Brussels Enrique Manalo submitted the government report to the European Commission Maritime Safety Agency (Emsa), which had noted "deficiencies" in the local maritime education, training and certification system in a visit by Emsa inspectors to the country in 2010."The timely submission of the report demonstrates the country's commitment to comply with the deficiencies and ensure that the quality of education, training and competencies of our seafarers are safeguarded," Baldoz said in a statement.She said Manalo handed the report on Aug. 26 to Deputy Director Zoltan Kazatsay of the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the EC.Baldoz said the Philippines' Maritime Training Council gave "serious and prompt attention" to the major concerns Emsa raised in the areas of maritime education and training, quality standards, certification and on-board training requirements, need for management level courses, and improvement of training equipment and facilities, Baldoz said.The European Union (EU) had expressed concern the ...

Without urgent action, emissions are set to more than double by 2050 "Europe's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions from aviation under the EU emissions trading scheme have hit the headlines this year not only in Brussels, but in Washington, Beijing and New Delhi, where the unilateral move is seen as controversial. But at the UN climate summit in Durban, South Africa, later this year, the EU has a chance to broker a fair global deal to reduce the massive emissions from another source, international shipping.If they seize it, they can get agreement on emissions reductions for the entire worldwide fleet of big, polluting ships and avoid negative impacts on developing countries that could lead to another diplomatic spat.Better still, setting a global carbon price for shipping would raise billions of euros for tackling climate change in developing countries. By securing further emissions cuts and new sources of climate finance, such a deal would help tackle two of the biggest challenges for the Durban conference.Like aviation, emissions from international shipping are high and rising fast. Shipping accounts for approximately 3% of global emissions - greater than those of Germany and around double those of Australia. A single ship can emit ...

It deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco and Maria Damanaki, European Union commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries, will sign a historic statement pledging bilateral cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, known as IUU fishing - a first for the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and the E.U. on fisheries management.The European Union and United States rank first and third, respectively, as the world's top seafood importers (Japan is second). Globally, illegal fishing deprives legal fishermen and coastal communities of up to $23 billion of seafood and seafood products annually. This puts honest fishermen at a disadvantage in the global marketplace. The U.S. and the E.U. recognize their responsibility to protect the oceans' vital food and biodiversity resources.In today's statement, the U.S. and the E.U. make it clear that they are committed to cooperating on combating IUU fishing as the only effective way of ending these practices.Among other things, they agree to work together to support the adoption of effective management measures in regional and international organizations to combat IUU fishing; promote tools that prevent IUU operators from benefiting economically from their illegal activities; exchange information ...

Alert issued by the London P&I Club The London P&I Club issues alert regarding New sanctions against Syria introduced by EU as follows:Members should be aware that with effect from 3 September 2011, the EU has introduced new sanctions against Syria, by which the carriage of crude oil or petroleum products from or originating from Syria is prohibited.A copy of the relevant Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) no 442/2011) can be found via:http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/finsanc_syria_council_regulation_eu_878_020911.pdfUnder the new Regulation, it is prohibited:a) to import crude oil or petroleum products into the European Union if they: (i) originate in Syria; or (ii) have been exported from Syria;b) to purchase crude oil or petroleum products which are located in or which originate in Syria;c) to transport crude oil or petroleum products if they originate in Syria, or are being exported from Syria to any other country;d) to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, including financial derivatives, as well as insurance and re-insurance, related to the prohibitions set out in a), b) and c);e) to participate knowingly and intentionally, in activities whose object or effect is, directly or indirectly, to circumvent the prohibition in point (a), (b), (c) or (d).Members should note that these prohibitions ...