INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

By | 2021 Newsletter week 5 | No Comments

ESPO’s Port Pro of the Month: Tom Hautekiet, Port of Zeebrugge

This month, Tom Hautekiet tells ESPO all about the Port of Zeebrugge.

Discover how he got into the port sector, how the Port of Zeebrugge handled the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit, and learn more about his views on the role of a port managing body and how a port can contribute to the decarbonization of the transport and logistics chain.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

By | 2020 Newsletter week 48 | No Comments

ESPO Says Higher Ambitions are Needed for Reducing GHG Emissions from Shipping

On 17 November, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC75) gave preliminary approval to the compromise agreement for the package of technical and operational measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships in the short run.

The agreed package combines the introduction of:

  • EEXI, Energy Efficiency Existing Ships Index
  • CII, Carbon Intensity Indicators operational measure
  • Carbon Intensity rating mechanism
  • the strengthening of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) framework.

ESPO, the European Sea Ports Organisation, sees the agreement as a first step.

ESPO however believes that the 2018 IMO CO2 target is possibly not ambitious enough in light of the European Green Deal objective of no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050, and the higher EU targets for 2030.

ESPO Calls For An FuelEU Maritime Initiative that Combines Clear Goals with Support for Innovation and Investments In the Maritime Sector

By | 2020 Newsletter week 39 | No Comments

As part of the ongoing discussions on the future FuelEU Maritime Initiative, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) expresses the commitment of European ports to play their part in helping the shipping sector decarbonise. The full ESPO position on the FuelEU Maritime Initiative is available here.

Might Some of Tirrenia CIN’s Vessels Possibly be Sold?

By | 2020 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

Italian financial newspaper MF (Milano Finanza) revealed this week that some of Tirrenia’s ferries controlled by Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione, may be put up for sale in the near future.

They are set to be seized by the Court of Rome following the action taken by the public “bad company” Tirrenia in Amministrazione Straordinaria.

The related revenues would be used to cover the deferred payments (a total amount of EUR 115 million) for the purchase of the former Tirrenia which were not paid in 2016 and 2019.

This potential scenario, if confirmed, would be possible in the coming months when the current public contract and subsidy to support lifeline maritime transportation with Sardinia, Sicily and Tremiti with Moby will expire. It should be mid of July but it is likely that a postponement of few months will be granted to the Vincenzo Onorato controlled group.

In its last available annual report, CIN said that the fleet was valued EUR 265 million (31 December 2018). However, some vessels were dismissed last year (HARTMUT PUSCHMANN, BARBARA KRAHULIK and AURELIA).

With reference to the other ferries still under CIN’s control the values reported at the end of 2018 are as follow: VINCENZO FLORIO (21.2m), BENIAMINO CARNEVALE (2m), RAFFAELE RUBATTINO (23.6m), BITHIA (38.5m), JANAS (38.5m), ATHARA (39.2m), NURAGHES (46.4m), SHARDEN (46.6m) and the high-speed vessel ISOLA DI CAPRAIA (2.8m).

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

By | 2020 Newsletter week 19 | No Comments

ESPO Proposes a Two-Step Approach on the New EU Transport Strategy

ESPO believes that in the absence of any insight on the duration and impact of the current crisis, it is, at this moment, impossible to set the ground for a long-term EU Transport Strategy.

ESPO proposes a two-step approach:

1) Europe’s first priority must now be to develop a restart and recovery plan which helps to overcome this crisis. It should develop the measures and instruments for Europe’s recovery to put the European economy and society back on track as soon as possible, while guaranteeing this happens in a safe way.

2) In a second phase, when the “new normal” sets in, the discussion should start on a new Transport Strategy, which will set the long-term goals, ambitions and initiatives for the European transport sector. The Strategy should integrate the consequences of and lessons learned from this crisis and should build on the new post-crisis reality.

ESPO and its members are happy to start the reflection with all stakeholders and EU decision makers in view of formulating clear answers to all these questions and setting the ground for a truly forward looking sustainable, connected, efficient and resilient transport system.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

By | 2020 Newsletter week 12 | No Comments

Europe’s Ports Call On EU and Member States to Keep Goods Moving in the EU

European ports call on the Commission and the EU member States to give priority to maintaining the transport of goods. All necessary measures should be taken to keep trade moving to ensure that essential goods and materials can be delivered to citizens throughout the EU. The closing of borders should not cut off the flow of goods.