Determination and resolve needed to reach meaningful ports reform package

European shipowners have sent input to the European Parliament, ahead of a discussion in the TRAN Committee on the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on Market access to port services and financial transparency of ports. In it, they call for a more comprehensive and inclusive reforms package. 

The European...

ECSA joins industry call to reap low hanging fruit of Short Sea Shipping

ECSA and other maritime stakeholders have joined an initiative led by the European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA), sending a letter to EU Member States and the European Commission and calling for various measures to be taken in an effort to revitalise the EU’s Short Sea Shipping...

EU Mediterranean Crisis Summit 'Appears to Fall Short', says Merchant Shipping Industry

The merchant shipping industry – which in the past 16 months participated in almost 1,000 migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean – welcomes the decision by EU leaders to triple resources of the Triton operation. The shipping sector similarly supports the commitment of EU Member States to deploy additional operational...

Shipping Industry Calls on EU Leaders to be Decisive and Immediately Increase Mediterranean Search and Rescue Resources

In advance of the emergency EU Council Summit tomorrow (Thursday 23 April) to address the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, the European and global shipping industries insist that the urgent priority is for EU Member States to immediately launch a proper EU Search and Rescue operation with sufficient resources to...

Merchant Shipping Industry Repeats Call for Urgent and Immediate Collective Action by EU Member States

Following the meeting of EU Foreign and Interior Ministers in Luxembourg yesterday (20 April) the European and global shipping industries have welcomed the increased attention that all EU Member States are giving to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. This includes the ‘10 point plan’ adopted as a result of...

Joint Shipping Industry Press Release on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Mediterranean Sea

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Exclusions of Seafarers: Social Partners welcome endorsement of the Rapporteur's report in the European Parliament

On 1 April, the Employment Committee of the European Parliament (EP) endorsed the report of Rapporteur Morin-Chartier (EPP, France), which puts forward amendments to the Commission’s proposal aiming at including seafarers in the existing directives on information and consultation, European Works’ Councils, transfer of undertakings, collective redundancies and employer insolvency...

Judiciousness needed to promote sustainable recycling of ships worldwide

In a position paper published earlier this week, European shipowners call for a swift ratification of the 2009 IMO Hong Kong Convention (HKC), which is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health...

Associations warn against risks of shifting CEF money to EFSI

In view of this week’s Transport Council and the debate it will hold on the 2015 Annual Growth Survey and transport policy’s contribution to EU Competitiveness, growth and jobs, the undersigned associations wish to address the EU Transport Ministers to voice their concerns on the way the Union is tackling...

Clarkson study sheds light on tramp shipping

In shipping, an industry unknown to many and invisible to most, tramp shipping is arguably one of its least known segments.

Although deriving its name from the unflattering British meaning of "tramp" as itinerant beggar or vagrant, designating ships that do not have a fixed schedule or published ports of...