ESPO congratulates Tanger Med Port Authority and the Igoumenitsa Port Authority for renewing their EcoPorts PERS Certification
Tanger Med Port Authority receives its PERS Certificate for the third time.
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.
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).
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.
With the slogan “Transport keeps us going”, ESPO, together with 33 organisations has issued a Declaration stressing the essential role transport is playing in the corona crisis.
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.
Submit Your Project for the ESPO Award 2020
The ESPO Award on Social Integration of Ports is entering its 12th edition. The theme of this year is “Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem”.
Project submissions have to reach the ESPO Secretariat by Friday 26 June 2020 at the latest. The application form and the terms of reference are available on the ESPO Website.
ESPO Has Published its Position Paper on the European Green Deal Objectives in Ports
The publication of this position paper fits into the European Shipping Week. In the framework of the European Shipping Week, ESPO and ECSA have organised today a workshop on “Decarbonising the shipping industry: What’s already happening and how can we help accelerate it?”.
“Strive For More At Home To Lead In The World”
“Europe must become the first climate-neutral continent and should even move towards zero-pollution,” said Mrs Ursula von der Leyen, the new EU commission president.
ESPO published a memorandum for the ports, with this baseline in mind.
