Short Sea Shipping: policy

gaps and opportunities

Shortsea 2015 – European Conference

19 June 2015

Lieselot Marinus

1. Introduction to ECSA

2. Origins of the EU SSS policy

3. Lessons learned

4. Opportunities to revive EU SSS policy

5. ECSA priorities for an EU SSS policy

6. Conclusion

1. Introduction to ECSA

Established in 1965

National shipowner associations EU + Norway

All trades – all sectors

Based in Brussels – interlocutor EU institutions

Partner in EU maritime social dialogue

Network with other shipowner interest organisations

2. Origins of the EU SSS policy

White Paper 1992 – introduction of ‘sustainable mobility’

Communication 1995: possible contribution of SSS to ‘sustainable mobility’

1997 & 1999 progress reports on development of SSS

2001 White Paper – transport until 2010 ‘Time to decide’ – concept of Motorways of the

Sea

2003 Communication – Programme for the promotion of SSS, 14 actions, ‘bottlenecksexercise’ – SSS Focal Points & SS Promotion Centres – European Short Sea Network

2003 Marco Polo supports MoS (in follow up to 2001 ‘Pilot actions for Combined Transport’ PACT)

2001-03 TEN-T guidelines review, introduction of MoS

2004 Communication on SSS

Several Council Conclusions on SSS as from 1997

Resulting initiatives:

― Proposals for Ports Directive/Regulation (2001, 2004, 2013)

― Guide to customs procedure for SSS (2002)

― Maritime transport space without barriers (2007)

― Blue Belt (2011)

― Reporting Formalities Directive (2001 – 2010)

― …

3. Lessons learned

Number of political developments and EU rules have a negative impact on SSS

Number of initiatives that aim to have a positive impact on SSS are not making much progress

Different fora discussing SSS

Cumbersome, bureaucratic procedures

‘Driver’ for SSS policy (sustainability) became one of the ‘obstacles’

Lack of harmonised legislation, implementation and enforcement policies in EU ports and estuaries

Conclusion: need for COHERENCY, FOCUS and POLITICAL VISION

4. Opportunities to revive EU SSS

policy

RECOGNISING the important role of the European Short-sea Network

(ESN) and its members Shortsea Promotion Centres (SPCs) to that

regard; …

EMPHASISING that Short Sea Shipping

needs to play a stronger role in the EU to ensure the necessary

accessibility and trade flows,

including between the mainland

and islands, and to shift long-

distance transport away from roads

in order to address capacity, energy

and climate challenges …;

POLITICALTransport Ministers - Athens Declaration May 2014

Transport is expected to grow, SSS has the potential

to accommodate this growth

SSS is a sustainable transport mode, especially in

terms of energy efficiency and from a perspective

of avoiding congestion, road accidents, noise

SSS contributes strongly to the maritime cluster:

shipbuilding, equipment manufacturers, other

maritime industries, SMEs

ECONOMIC and SOCIETAL

5. ECSA priorities for an EU SSS

policy

1. Ensure the right balance between

competitiveness and environmental and social

sustainability

2. Achieve smooth operations and cut red tape

3. Stimulate the uptake of new technologies

4. Promote Short Sea Shipping

1. Ensure right balance between competitiveness and

environmental and social sustainability

An all-inclusive approach / better regulation

– Proper assessment of the impact of new policy

measures and legislation on short sea shipping

– Straightforward funding procedures

Investment in infrastructure that facilitates SSS

– Investment in infrastructure in ports (e.g. installations

for alternative fuels, for ship waste reception)

– Investment in infrastructure to increase the quality

and quantity of the hinterland connections

– Investment in smooth multimodal solutions (e.g. IT

infrastructure)

Acceptable framework conditions to obtain a Ballast

Water Management Convention Exemption for SSS

Administrative simplification

“An EU-registered ship travelling from

Antwerp to Rotterdam can require the

same amount of paperwork as a ship

travelling to Rotterdam from Panama.”

EC Communication on MTSWB 2009

― Single windows - Reporting

Formalities Directive

― Simplified customs procedures

2. Achieve smooth operations and cut red tape

Proposal for a Regulation on ports

― freedom to provide services applies

to ports and port services

― financial transparency prevails when

public money is involved in the

operation of ports and port services,

as well as in case of closed markets

― port users must be consulted on port

dues and services charges

― autonomous port management

requires independent supervision .

Efficient port services

Pilotage Exemption Certificates

― Available in all ports

around the EU

― Requirements should

be transparent,

objective and

proportionate

Coordination & optimalisation

― Integrated and

harmonised inspections in

ports

― Security legislation that is

not hampering trade

― E-maritime - DTLF

3. Stimulate the uptake of new technologies

Support investment in retrofitting of SSS vessels

and the installing of newly developed equipment

Appropriate financial instrument

Structural exemption from energy taxes for shore

side electricity

4. Promote SSS: make sure that SSS is known,

accommodated and used.

Communicate better business case to shippers, road carriers and freight forwarders

Communicate better with regulators -‘sss reflex’

Communicate better with consumers

Important role for Short Sea Promotion Centres

6. Conclusion

Political momentum

Time to address some unfinished business

Time to step-up efforts on new initiatives

Joint efforts needed from industry players and policymakers

SSS EU policy – 2.0

Lieselot Marinus – Director Trade and Shipping PolicyEuropean Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)

Rue Ducale, Hertogstraat 67/2 – B-1000 Brussels

+ 32 2 510 61 28 – lieselot.marinus@ecsa.eu – www.ecsa.eu

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