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The European Community Shipowners' Associations, ECSA, welcomes the EU Commission's new green growth plan, which was announced Wednesday. Unlike the Danish shipowners, the association does not criticize the CO2 quota scheme the Commission wants to place shipping under.
The new EU Commission has presented 50 initiatives that together will produce a CO2-neutral EU by 2050. Much against its own will, shipping will be included in the CO2 quota scheme. Tax exemptions on maritime fuels are set to end. Read the entire plan here.
Following a preliminary review of the announced merger between two of the world's largest shipbuilders, Hyundai Heavy Industries and DSME, the EU will allegedly take a deeper look at the process, says Reuters.
J. Lauritzen is challenged by excessive sulfur in new fuels, Global Risk Management opens new offices and reshuffles management, while a shipping CEO thinks the industry is unprepared for climate-related challenges. These are some of this week's most important stories on ShippingWatch.
All 28 EU member states have adopted a text that calls on the EU Commission to propose changes to the energy taxation directive. It looks like considerations will be made for shipping companies, says Danish minister of finance.
Powerful forces in the European Parliament are working to impose the CO2 quotas on shipping that companies are fighting vehemently against already next year. ShippingWatch has interviewed Jutta Paulus, spokesperson for a bill that could make the quotas a reality in 2020.
The European Commission wants to extend the consortia block exemption regulation, BER, for container shipping lines. The commission calls for comments in a consultation period. The current regulation is set to expire in April 2020.
The EU's next transport commissioner will likely hail from Romania, where the government has now nominated its candidate for the job. The original candidate was previously blocked by the European Parliament.
The legal committee of the European Parliament has once again decided that the nominated transport commissioner is unqualified for the job. The next move lies with the coming president of the EU Commission.
The nomination of Romanian Rovana Plumb as new EU transport commissioner meets resistance from the EU Parliament's legal committee, which rejects her candidature due to a conflict of interest.
The European Community Shipowners' Association "warmly welcomes" the nomination of Romanian Rovama Plumb as new commissioner for transport. The association also praises the nominations of Margrethe Vestager, Phil Hogan and Frans Timmermans.
If EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc has her way, the container sector's consortia block exemption regulation should be extended, she says in an interview with ShippingWatch. The regulation gives liner companies certain competitive edges, and it is currently being reviewed.
China has several projects in the works aimed at helping the country's shipbuilding and shipping sector. "I don't think that in the shipowners community there is a full understanding of the impact of the Chinese policy yet," says Sea Europe's Secretary General in an interview with ShippingWatch.
It is not just a question of whether the container sector's unique Block Exemption Regulation should be dissolved or extended. The EU Commission now floats the notion that the exemption could be adjusted, says EU Commission director general for competition according to media.
Most of the consortia cooperation between liner companies exceed the threshold they must remain below to benefit from the EU's consortia block exemption, concludes a new report by the International Transport Forum, a body under OECD. This is noteworthy for three reasons, says ITF.
Anil Sharma, CEO of the world's largest cash buyer, GMS, is disappointed by the EU's decision to reject two yards in India, Alang. He projects that the scrap value of European ships will drop by 60 to 80 percent if they are to scrapped according to EU rules.
European shipping companies have a special responsibility to improve conditions for the environment and workers at the much-maligned beaching yards in South Asia, says the EU's maritime affairs commissioner, Karmenu Vella.
The fronts between container carriers and shippers are not necessarily that fiercely drawn when it comes to the carriers' unique competitive edge, says Sea-Intelligence. Even the most ardent opponents of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation do not want to get rid of alliances altogether, notes the firm.
Supporters and critics have submitted their arguments for either maintaining or discontinuing the liner shipping company's unique competitive edge, the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation. Read on to learn who says what.
Information about ships' emission of greenhouse gases should be published, maintains the EU Commission after revising the so-called MRV system. However, the commission did budge on one point.
The European Commission and European shipyards have agreed to set out a new strategy for shipyards, which will create a better competitive position on the global market.
The British Parliament emphatically rejected Theresa May's Brexit deal. With the UK due to leave the EU in 10 weeks, there is growing alarm that the impasse will not end in time to avoid the potential economic disaster that would be a no-deal exit.
The EU Commission is acting on a request by two countries and will now look into Fincantieri's plans to buy Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The merger of the two shipbuilders could potentially harm competition, says the Commission.
The current Block Exemption Regulation for liner companies should be revoked, say some. Others want it extended. The EU Commission will now address the issue. ShippingWatch has gathered some of the comments from the disputing parties here.
The latest version of the EU list of shipbreaking facilities has now received final approval. The Indian yards Maersk works with were not approved for the list. The rules will come into force two weeks from now.
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