EC

Maritime Trade Hit By Carriers Breaching Contracts, Charging Higher Rates

As Asia-Europe container spot rates continue to skyrocket, shippers and freight forwarders are accusing carriers of breaching short- and long-term contracts to “charge whatever they want”, reports the LoadStar.

Carriers Behaviour Damaging Trade?

In a joint letter to the Competition Directorate of the European Commission (EC), the European Freight Forwarders Association (CLECAT) and European Shippers’ Council (ESC) have protested about the “damage” the carriers’ behaviour is causing to trade...

https://mfame.guru/maritime-trade-hit-by-carriers-breaching-contracts-charging-higher-rates/

Maritime industry critical of EU’s emissions stance

Industry associations and regulators have criticised the European Union following Wednesday’s (16 September) vote in the European Parliament to include shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Concerns from the industry centre around the undermining of the sector’s global regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its efforts to develop global market-based-measures to reduce carbon from shipping.

The EU said it had tired of the delays within the shipping regulatory...

https://container-news.com/maritime-industry-critical-of-eus-emissions-stance/

ABS Study To Assess Energy Efficiency Design Index, EEDI

According to a MarineLink article, a team led by ABS has been awarded a contract by the European Commission (EC) to explore future directions for the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for ships.

What is it?

The EC, the executive arm of the European Union, awarded the consortium of ABS, Vessel Performance Solutions (VPS) and Arcsilea with funding to assess the EEDI’s technical performance and evaluate new targets before the 76th meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection...

https://mfame.guru/abs-study-to-assess-proof-energy-efficiency-design-index/

Union backlash against feeder operators’ challenge to cargo handling rules

Unions launched a legal challenge against ship operators who they claim are reneging on an internationally agreed deal in 2019, following a complaint filed with the European Competition Directorate by six, unnamed, carriers.

Six European short sea container carriers wrote to the EC on 19 May complaining that rules governing the lashing of containers onboard ships breach European competition rules, because, Container News understands, the carriers cannot use competing bodies for the work. So far...

https://container-news.com/union-backlash-against-feeder-operators-challenge-to-cargo-handling-rules/

ESC sends strong message to EC over alliances’ Block Exemption

European shippers and other transport bodies have written to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to express their “strong disapproval” of the commission’s recent decision to extend the liner consortia block exemption for four more years.

But they say that they will not make any fresh attempt to overturn the decision, concentrating on ensuring that the commission does not extend the exemption another four years when the current extension expires on 25 April 2024.

In their letter,...

https://container-news.com/esc-sends-strong-message-to-ec-over-alliances-block-exemption/

EC renews Liner Block Exemption

The European Commission has decided to proceed with its planned renewal of the liner shipping consortia block exemption despite vociferous protests from shippers and other supply chain interests.

The exemption, which allows shipping companies to override European Union competition law in order to cooperate in the provision of joint liner services, had been due to expire next month but has now been extended until 25 April 2024.

In its announcement, the commission made no reference to the protests...

https://container-news.com/ec-renews-liner-block-exemption/

Daily Overview of Global Markets & the SEE Region (Thursday, 18 July, 2019)

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Daily Overview of Global Markets & the SEE Region (Thursday, 18 July, 2019)

HIGHLIGHTS

WORLD ECONOMIC & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

GLOBAL MARKETS:  Market participants returned to risk-off mode today with Asian bourses performing poorly and European equity markets opening lower amid fears over a further escalation in the US/China trade dispute. Market concerns that the prolonged US/China trade dispute could hurt corporate earnings and disappointing data yesterday from both sides of the Atlantic, have...

http://www.allaboutshipping.co.uk/2019/07/18/daily-overview-of-global-markets-the-see-region-thursday-18-july-2019/

EU Proposes Changing Fuel Reporting Mechanisms for IMO 2020 Consistency

  • The EU’s proposal of shipping reporting mechanism change is up for a debate at the MEPC of the IMO next month.
  • The current reporting system would be expanded to allow for reporting and testing of sulphur fuel content for 3-5 years.
  • In addition to shipowners reporting fuel non-availability, the proposal also calls for the testing agencies to provide data on ports, dates and fuel quantity supplied.
  • As of February, 3 ships have reported compliant fuel non-availability whereas IMO’s global...

http://mfame.guru/eu-proposes-changing-fuel-reporting-mechanisms-for-imo-2020-consistency/

EC Meet to Harmonise Rules on Scrubber Wash Water Discharge

Recently, the Council of the European Union met to discuss issues pertaining to the scrubber wash water discharge. With just a year remaining for the IMO 2020 deadline and many countries like Singapore and China banning Open-loop Scrubbers, addressing this issue has become an urgent necessity.

The EC has issued a directive which would be presented at the IMO meeting scheduled to be held in London from 13-17th May 2019, says a press release on their website.

Here is an excerpt from that press...

http://mfame.guru/ec-meet-to-harmonise-rules-on-scrubber-wash-water-discharge/