The European Council formally adopted a new set of rules governing ports in the European Union on January 23, 2017. The rules are aimed at increasing the financial transparency of ports and creating clear and fair conditions for access to the port services market throughout Europe. The regulation is
The Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC), a group of NGOs, has heavily criticised comments by the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim warning the EU against taking action to address increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. “The challenge of meeting the obj
Including shipping in the European Union’s Emission Trading System (EU-ETS) could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping on a global basis, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim said in a letter to senior European officials. Lim ackn
A new mandatory code for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels has entered into force on January 1, 2017, along with new training requirements for seafarers working on those ships, according to International Maritime Organization (IMO). “The International Code of Safety for Ships using Gas
Polar Code, the new regulation for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters, has entered into force on January 1, 2017, marking a milestone in addressing international concern about the protection of the polar environment, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said. With more and more
Emissions regulations have a big impact on the maritime industry. What is coming and are the new standards workable for everybody? Looking back at the last couple of years, the maritime sector has witnessed some definite changes concerning certain types of ship emissions. The most notable example of
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has completed the research work aimed at developing the Polar Water Operational Manual (PWOM) for the RS-classed ships ahead of the Polar Code’s entry into force on January 1, 2017. To assist the shipowners, RS said it has developed a detailed structure and
European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) has adopted a position paper endorsing a number of actions by the European Union that are expected to improve polar shipping conditions. Earlier this year, European shipowners welcomed the adoption of the integrated European Union policy for the Arct
Europe should pile on the pressure on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to increase efforts and submit an initial shipping emissions reduction target to the stock-take process of the Paris Agreement in 2018, according to the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO). The initial reduction t
On December 14, 2016, the European Parliament supported a set of new rules governing ports in the European Union (EU), with financial transparency being in the focus. The new rules are aimed at making ports in Europe more efficient and attractive to investors. The lack of clear rules on public fundi
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has called for the inclusion of maritime transport into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2023 if the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) does not deliver a global deal by 2021. The Environment Committee MEPs agreed to align the start of
As the global demand for commodities continues to increase and the Arctic summer sea ice continues shrinking, the shipping companies are already preparing for the possible surge in ship traffic on two major Arctic sea routes. Although it would not be possible to open the Northwest Passage in Canada
On January 1, 2017, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is enforcing the new Merchant Shipping (Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships) Regulation, CAP 413N, to implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti
Weakness in freight rates will increase tanker shipping demolitions over the next two years, with the trend accelerating in later years as a result of the IMO regulation on ballast water, according to shipping consultancy Drewry. The new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulation on Ballas
