24th May 2025 – 30th May 2025
LOCAL NEWS
No news reported.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Adoption of the Polish Presidency Declaration on the EU Industrial Strategy
Following the adoption of the report from the Informal Council of EU Ministers responsible for shipping, held on Thursday, 15 May 2025, in Szczecin, Poland, our Union has examined the Ministerial Declaration on the EU Maritime Industrial Strategy that was adopted at the meeting.
Following our review, we would like to highlight the following key points:
- Acknowledging the strategic role of European shipping in Europe's energy supply, supply chain and food security.
- Ensuring a global level playing field and a fit for purpose regulatory and taxation framework is essential.
- Recognising the significance of internationally-recognized regulations and Conventions, especially those established by the IMO and ILO.
- Shipping must be included in the upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), which should put forward concrete measures to de-risk investment in clean fuels in Europe.
- Acknowledging that the maritime transport is facing a shortage of skilled professionals, and re-skilling and up-skilling is required.
- Better access to competitive public and private finance is crucial to deliver on the green and digital transition. Facilitating access to banking finance is particularly important for SMEs, which form the backbone of the European shipping industry.
- Acknowledging that the EU banking rules, due to strict prudential requirements, have made European commercial banks risk averse and pushed them out of ship financing, with a negative impact on maritime investments in Europe.
- It also adopts a long-time request from our side calling for regulatory action on fuel supply as decarbonisation depends on the contribution of fuel producers and suppliers.
The Declaration also addresses social aspects of the industry and shipbuilding subsidies. Specifically, it references:
- “the vital contribution of seafarers to the EU economy and sovereignty and the need to uphold their rights and decent working conditions, especially in ensuring territorial cohesion within the European Union”.
- “the distortive effects of targeted public subsidies in some third countries have been particularly acute in the shipbuilding sector, while the shipbuilding State aid was abolished in Europe in 2013”.
- “over the years European shipowners have become fully dependent on Asia for merchant shipbuilding, which supplies 94% of global shipbuilding, and that this dependence poses an economic security risk, especially in a period of increased geopolitical tensions”.
- “attract Europeans to work for the EU shipping, shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing industries and on the EU-designed, built, flagged, and operated ships, thereby safeguarding the European knowledge and expertise in the sector”.
Of particular importance is the provision of Chapter 2, bullet 5, page 4 of the Declaration:
“An EU Industrial Maritime policy should propose actions that:
Encourage the expansion of circular and sustainable business models , including ship dismantling in Europe and recognising the need for sufficient capacity, as well as ensure that the recycling yards included in the EU List of ship recycling facilities included in the EU Ship Recycling Regulation ( EU SRR) fully comply with the SRR provisions , including the non- discrimination principle enshrined in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU )”.
In this respect, it is expected that:
- Ship recycling will be included in the EU Industrial Strategy that will be issued later in 2025;
- The Turkish recycling yards on the EU list will violate EU law if they refuse recycling of an EU Ship, resulting to use their license and will not be allowed to be on the EU list.
It is worth noting that the final text adopted differs significantly from the initial draft, which primarily focused on shipbuilding. Following interventions by Cyprus and Greece, the adopted text now highlights the need to maintain Europe’s tax and social frameworks in a competitive state. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring a fit-for-purpose regulatory and taxation framework that makes registering ships under EU Member State flags more attractive. Additionally, the text addresses the issue of ship recycling, clarifying that Turkey is obligated to accept all EU-flagged vessels in accordance with the Regulation’s provisions for non-discriminatory treatment.
Related Article:
Attachment 1: Szczecin Declaration
2. Greek Shipowners and UN Agency discuss nuclear propulsion
On Thursday, 29th May 2025, the head of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, met with Greek shipowners to discuss the potential use of nuclear power in future global goods transportation.
The United Nations agency recently launched an initiative to develop a regulatory and safety framework for deploying nuclear reactors on commercial maritime vessels, aiming to reduce global emissions, improve efficiency in the shipping industry, and ultimately help lower food prices.
Grossi has been engaging with shipping leaders in Europe to promote the initiative, known as ATLAS – Atomic Technology Licensed for Applications at Sea.
Greece was chosen as a key stakeholder due to its significant share of the world’s commercial fleet.
In Athens, Mr. Grossi held discussions on Thursday with Greece’s ministers of foreign affairs and development, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Takis Theodorikakos, as well as with the leadership of the Union of Greek Shipowners.
Related Articles:
Safety4Sea 30/05 - Greek Shipowners and UN Agency discuss nuclear propulsion
3. Commission welcomes lifting of EU economic sanctions on Syria
On 28 May 2025, the European Council adopted a decision to lift EU economic sanctions on Syria. The legal acts, jointly proposed by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission, implement the political decision taken by the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May. The objective is to support the Syrian people in reuniting and rebuilding a new, inclusive, pluralistic, and peaceful country.
This decision follows the suspension of a number of economic sanctions in February and is part of the EU’s efforts to promote an inclusive political transition in Syria, as well as to foster swift socio-economic recovery, reconstruction and stabilisation in the country.
With this decision, all sectoral restrictive measures are lifted, except those targeting the Assad regime in line with the EU’s commitment to accountability and those concerning security.
The EU stands ready to support the Syrian people in rebuilding their country through a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process that delivers for its citizens. The EU will continue to closely monitor developments on the ground, including progress on inclusiveness, reforms and accountability regarding recent outbreaks of violence, as well as the impact of the lifting of economic sanctions.
Related Article:
European Commission 28/05 - Commission welcomes lifting of EU economic sanctions on Syria
4. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: US Treasury Report for week 24/05/2025 – 30/05/2025
5. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 3: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 30/04/2025 – 28/05/2025
Nothing important to report from the IMO, the ILO and the House of Representatives.