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FORUM of Shipping
and Logistics

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13 February 2001

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

On Market Access to Port Services

(TEXT WITH EEA RELEVANCE)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM


1. INTRODUCTION

The port services market covers services of a commercial value which are provided against payment to port users in a seaport and whose payment is not normally included in the charges collected for being allowed to call at or operate in a port. Although this service sector is essential for the functioning of the Community's ports and hence for its trade, there is at present no specific Community regulatory framework for port services.

However, national port services regimes have to be in conformity with the freedoms guaranteed by the Treaty (freedom of establishment, free movement of workers, goods and services) as well as the Treaty's competition rules. Problems with the application of these rules, where they arose, have been dealt with by the Commission on a case by case basis.

Ports play a crucial role in intra and extra Community trade. They will be called upon to play an increasing role in attempts to transfer more goods and passengers to the environmentally less damaging and less congested sea transport mode and to encourage intermodal transport and make it less costly; there is hence a need to ensure their effectiveness.

The liberalisation of the Community's internal maritime transport market took place over the last decade. In fact, transitional rules continue to allow restrictions in the Greek islands cabotage market. The situation in port services varies considerably: in many ports, restrictions are still in place regarding access and fair and equal treatment of potential service providers with consequences for quality and costs of services. It can nevertheless be observed that developments in the port services market are following those of maritime transport towards a more open market, albeit with a considerable time lag. Developments, however, vary considerably.

For these reasons, it is necessary, in the interests of operators, authorities and consumers, to introduce specific and clear rules on access to the port services market which will take account of its unique features.


2. THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Recent developments have made it necessary to replace the case by case approach in the application of the Treaty rules by a more systematic approach.

Competition between ports within the same Member State and between ports in neighbouring Member States has substantially increased since the completion of the internal market. Although, of course, all ports have to follow rules set by the competent national authorities, the diversity and complexity of these rules as well as a considerable degree of uncertainty in procedural matters continue to be of key interest to port users and port service providers. Price and quality of port services have become one of the key elements where port users choose a port; a set of basic rules applicable in all Community ports would ensure that the competition between and within ports would take place on a level playing field.

Recent years have seen a continuing, even increasing trend to shift the provision of port services from the public to the private sector in order to increase efficiency, make use of the know-how of the private sector and introduce, and increase, competition between service providers. Although this trend is far from uniform and, indeed, tends to vary considerably between the different port service sectors, all Member States have opted for the principle of opening up this sector to competition. The accompanying rules vary considerably. Indeed, in many cases it is not clear what these rules are, thus effectively rendering unnecessarily difficult the exercise of the Treaty's freedoms.

The heterogeneous nature of the port services and the diversity of the ports (in terms of status, ownership, size, function and geographical characteristics) remain important factors. It requires that appropriate account be taken of each port's specificity and its relevance for the port service providers. This may, in particular, be the case where space and capacity constraints exist in a port or where specific maritime safety and environmental considerations exist. In addition, ports have a particular role to play in the Community's customs procedures.

The principle of subsidiarity implies that Member States and their competent authorities be empowered to take account of considerations of local, regional or national specificities. These considerations, well-founded as they may be in many cases, must, however, not unduly restrict the rights of service providers derived from the basic freedoms of the Treaty. It is therefore necessary to lay down at Community level the conditions for the exercise of these freedoms: in particular, that limitations in the number of service providers, where they are deemed necessary, are objectively justified and that the procedure leading to their authorisation is transparent, non-discriminatory, objective, relevant and proportional.

A further characteristic of a substantial number of ports is the dual role of the managing body of the port both as a body (public but also sometimes private) responsible for the management of the port and its development, for which in many cases public funds are given, and as a provider of port services where other service suppliers are admitted. It is often unclear under what conditions public and private suppliers can compete with each other.

A Community framework on port services should not apply to ports of all sizes. It is acknowledged that the implementation of the framework by Member States will, in most cases, impose an additional burden on authorities which, for the smaller ports, appears to be disproportionate to the expected results since limited cargo and passenger volumes do not normally require a multitude of service providers.

Under these circumstances it is appropriate to establish a Community legal framework ensuring, on the one hand, access to the port services market in application of the Treaty rules whilst, on the other hand, allowing Member States and their competent authorities to fill in this framework with specific rules which take due account of the ports' geographic and other characteristics as well as of local, regional or national specificities.


3. THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL

3.1. The key principles
  • Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that providers of port services have access to the market for the provision of port services.

    This principle gives effect to the Treaty rules on the major freedoms and competition as regards this specific sector.

    The Commission believes that no port service of a commercial nature should a priori be excluded from the Community framework. A list of port services is annexed to the legislative proposal.
  • Member States may require that a provider of port services obtain prior authorisation.

    This principle acknowledges that, in order to ensure proper management of a port with its inherent constraints as well as to ensure a satisfactory level of professional qualifications, Member States may operate a system of prior authorisation for providers of port services.

    The Commission believes that the conditions for granting of authorisations must be transparent, non-discriminatory, objective, relevant and proportional. They may relate only to the provider's professional qualifications, his sound financial situation and sufficient insurance cover, to maritime safety or the safety of installations, equipment and persons as well as to environmental protection. Where public service obligations are considered appropriate, these may relate to safety, regularity, continuity, quality and price of the service in question.
  • The number of authorisations can only be limited for reasons of constraints relating to available space or capacity or, for technical-nautical services, maritime traffic related safety. These constraints must be justified and Member States must carry out a transparent, objective and non-discriminatory selection process of the service providers. Key aspects of the selection procedures will be harmonised.

    This principle reconciles the Treaty rules on the freedoms of establishment and the provision of services with the fact that in a number of ports and port services sectors, the above-mentioned constraints make a limitation unavoidable.
  • Ports in which no limitations exist, are not bound by the rules on limitations, selection procedure, duration of authorisations and on transitional measures.

    This principle acknowledges that the aim which this Directive strives to achieve has already been achieved in these ports.
  • Member States shall take the necessary measures to allow self-handling.

    This principle acknowledges that there are in fact no reasons why self-handling should not, in principle, be allowed in ports if operators believe that such action provides better use of their resources and gains in efficiency of their own services. It acknowledges furthermore that conditions and criteria for self-handlers must not be stricter than those set for providers of port services for the same or a comparable kind of service.
  • Where the managing body of the port provides, or wishes to provide, port services in competition with other service providers, it must be treated like any other competitor. This requires that the managing body must not be involved in the selection procedure of service providers, must not discriminate, in its function as managing body of the port, between service providers in which it holds an interest and other service providers and must, in particular, separate its port services accounts from the accounts of its other activities.

    This principle reflects general competition principles and standards of transparency.
  • Member States will have to ensure full transparency of all procedures in relation to the provision of port services, as well as the availability of appeal procedures, including a judicial review.

    This is the principle of good governance.
  • Where a selection of service providers is made, the period during which the chosen provider may operate will be limited in time.

    This principle reconciles the need to maintain the possibility of potential and future service providers to enter the port services market with legitimate expectations of current service providers. It does not allow a simple catch-all solution. Indeed, it is appropriate to treat those cases differently where, on the one hand, no or only insignificant investments were made by the service provider and, on the other hand, where the service provider had to make such investments; where investments were made in moveable or immovable assets; and, of course, the level of investments needs to be given due consideration.
  • Transitional measures take account of legitimate expectations of current service providers but, at the same time, require that within a reasonable time frame, existing authorisations which were not granted in conformity with the Directive's rules be reviewed.

    This principle ensures that the objectives of this Directive are attained within a reasonable period of time whilst respecting legitimate expectations of current service providers. This is done, in particular, by taking into account the same criteria to be used for determining the duration of authorisations where their number had to be limited.
  • The Directive and its implementation by Member States must not jeopardise safety in ports.

    This principle re-affirms the Commission's concerns about maritime safety; all measures aiming at regulating access to the port services sector must fully ensure the highest levels of safety, in particular maritime safety, in ports.
  • The Directive and its implementation by Member States must not jeopardise environmental protection rules in ports.

    This principle re-affirms the importance the Commission attaches to environmental protection.

The proposal does not contain rules on institutional structures of the ports and does not prevent Member States from deciding which bodies should act as competent authorities.

In application of article 295 of the Treaty the proposal in no way prejudices the rules in Member States governing the system of property ownership of, or in, ports.

The proposal does not contain harmonised or minimum standards for training and qualifications of the personnel and the equipment involved. Without prejudice to existing Community legislation and in application of the subsidiarity principle it allows Member States to maintain and set appropriate rules provided these are, in particular, transparent, non-discriminatory and objective.

Finally, the proposal does not include harmonised safety and environmental rules but relies on existing rules which may take appropriate account of national, regional and local specificities.

The approach is in line with the conclusions of the European Council of Lisbon of 28 March 2000 where the Commission, Council and the Member States, each in accordance with their respective powers, were asked to "speed up liberalisation in areas such as….. transport". It takes into account the views expressed by the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the Economic and Social Committee, following the publication of the Commission's "Green Paper on Sea Ports and Maritime Infrastructure", and has considerable (although not unanimous) support among interested industry groups.

3.2. Outline of the proposed directive

Article 1 sets out the Directive's objectives.

Article 2 sets out the Directive's scope. It clarifies that only services provided within the port area and not, e.g. in rivers leading to ports, are covered by the Directive and it explains, by referring to an annex, what port services are covered and introduces a threshold for ports to which the Directive would apply.

Article 3 explains that the Directive does not replace any of the obligations to which authorities are already subject as a result of the public procurement Directives 92/50, 93/36, 93/37 and 93/38. In addition, where one of those Directives already requires a contract to be tendered, it will be those Directives rather than the proposed Directive that determine the manner in which this should be done. Paragraph 3 furthermore ensures application of Directives 89/48, 92/51 and 99/42 on mutual recognition of professional education and training, in particular where Member States issue authorisations based on a provider's professional qualifications.

Article 4 defines key terms.

Article 5 requires Member States to designate competent authorities for the purpose of implementing this Directive.

Article 6 establishes the basic rule that Member State may require an authorisation for the providers of port services. The conditions for granting an authorisation must be transparent, non-discriminatory, objective, relevant and proportional. They must be made public, as has to be the procedure for obtaining the authorisation. This article contains a restricted list of optional criteria on which the authorisation may depend, in particular a limited list of public service obligations. It contains furthermore an obligation for the competent authority to provide adequate training where local knowledge is indispensable for a potential service provider and the right of a service provider to employ the personnel of his choice.

Article 7 sets out the procedures to be followed where the number of service providers in a port is to be limited. It requires nevertheless that the highest possible number of service providers must be allowed and that in the sector of cargo handling generally at least two providers must be authorised. It requires furthermore that a decision on limitations must not be taken by the managing body of the port if it is, or wishes to become, a service provider in that port.

Article 8 requires that a selection procedure of service providers must be set up and requires that this procedure be transparent, objective and non-discriminatory using proportionate and relevant criteria. It sets out certain key procedural formalities which a selection procedure must comply with whilst at the same time allowing that full use be made of modern electronic communication means. It addresses furthermore the situation where the managing body of a port wishes to provide a service in competition with another provider. In this case it cannot be the authority responsible for the selection process but an independent body has to be appointed for this purpose.

Article 9 introduces the principle of a time limit to authorisations given as a result of a selection procedure and links its duration to the criterion of investment in assets: The duration varies according to whether no or only insignificant investments were made by the service provider and whether the assets in which investments were made are moveable or not. Maximum duration periods are given.

Article 10 introduces the requirement that service providers must have accounts for port service activities.

Article 11 sets out that the rules of this Directive equally apply to self-handling and that any criteria set for self-handling should not be stricter than those set for other providers of the same or a comparable port service.

Article 12 addresses the situation where the managing body of a port, in addition to its management role, acts as service provider. It requires, in particular, that it must separate the accounts of its port services activities from those of its other activities. Auditing is made mandatory, and the auditor's report must include information on financial flows between the managing body's different activities. This article equally addresses the situation where no provider for a specific service is found and the managing body of the port therefore considers it necessary to offer this service itself and sets out that the managing body of a port must not discriminate between service providers.

Article 13 ensures full transparency of the selection process and requires Member States to establish appeal procedures, including a judicial review.

Article 14 recalls that the Directive in no way affects the rights and obligations of Member States in respect of law and order, safety and security at ports as well as environmental protection.

Article 15 ensures the application of social legislation.

Article 16 contains transitional measures. It allows for existing authorisations to remain in force unchanged where the port is not limiting access to the port services market, even though new authorisations have to comply with the rules of the Directive. This article then addresses existing authorisations granted after a public tender or an equivalent procedure and which are in conformity with the rules of this Directive which do not require adjustments. All other authorisations will become the subject of new authorisation procedures within given transition periods which latter vary according to the level and kind of investments made by the service provider currently holding the authorisation.

Article 17 lays down obligations of Member States to report on the application of the Directive and of the Commission to draw up a report on the basis of these reports accompanied, where appropriate, by a proposal for a revision.

Article 18 contains Member States' obligation to implement the Directive.

Article 19 provides for the entry into force of the Directive.

Article 20 contains the addressees of the Directive.


4. JUSTIFICATION FOR ACTION AT COMMUNITY LEVEL

4.1. What are the objectives of the proposed action in relation to the Community's obligations ?

The proposal aims to ensure a more systematic application of Treaty rules (4 freedoms and competition rules) in the port sector. It introduces procedural rules guaranteeing that all service providers, actual and potential, have a fair chance of entering the port services market. This will in turn lead to improved port services and encourage better use of shipping as an alternative transport mode and of combined transport, both reducing the strain on the Community's transport network.

Without pronouncing itself, in line with Article 295 of the Treaty, on the ownership regime of port installations and port service providers, the proposal establishes a system of equal rights and opportunities between private and public service providers.

4.2. Does competence for the planned activity lie solely with the Community or is it shared with the Member States?

The action falls under shared competence (article 80(2))of the Treaty.

4.3. What is the Community dimension of the problem (for example, how many Member States are involved and what solution has been used up to now)?

The Directive concerns all coastal Member States. Although in recent years Member States have generally made considerable progress in ensuring free access to port services, there is presently a wide divergence of practice with regard both to the coverage of port services and the procedures followed to implement the Treaty rights.

In order to ensure access to the ports services market and, in doing so, avoid distortion of competition, it is necessary to improve and harmonise, to the extent necessary, national rules, regulations and practices.

4.4. What is the most effective solution taking into account the means available to the Community and those of the Member States?

Given the current uneven levels of access to the port services market in the Member States and even within a Member State, and generally unclear and unsatisfactory procedural rules, in particular where private and public service providers are concerned, there is a need to establish Community-wide basic rules. These allow Member States, in application of the principle of subsidiarity, considerable discretion, in particular in view of geographic characteristics of the ports with varying maritime safety/environmental protection requirements.

The proposal establishes common rules in particular for

  • The implementation of the principle of freedom to provide port services;
  • Member States' right to require prior authorisation;
  • Member States' right to limit the number of service providers;
  • Procedures to be followed in the processes, including transparency;
  • The implementation of the right to self-handle;
  • The duration of authorisations;
  • The rights and obligations of port managing bodies in their dual functions of authority and service provider;
  • Appeal procedures.

4.5. What real added value will the activity proposed by the Commission provide and what would be the cost of inaction?

In view of the current situation as a result of developments in recent years, it is highly unlikely that a satisfactory situation throughout the Community will evolve which guarantees the implementation of the freedom to provide port services and does not distort competition between service providers in different Member States. This is essentially due to the fact that Member States, although they are making progress in their efforts to enhance free access to the port services market, lack a common framework of Community rules with the result that developments are incoherent, irregular and unsatisfactory.

4.6. What forms of action are available to the Community (recommendation, financial support, regulation, mutual recognition, etc…)?

In view of the complexity of Member States' port regimes and the diversity of ports with regard to size and function and maritime safety and environmental protection requirements, a Directive is considered the most appropriate legal instrument leaving the implementation of the common framework at the level of the Member States.

4.7. Is it necessary to have a uniform regulation or is a directive setting out the general objectives sufficient, leaving the implementation at the level of the Member States?

See 4.6 above.








Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on Market Access to Port Services

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article [80(2)] thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,

Whereas:

  1. The objective of Article 49 of the Treaty is to eliminate the restrictions on freedom to provide services in the Community; in accordance with Article 51 of the Treaty, that objective must be achieved within the framework of the common transport policy.
  2. Through Council Regulations (EEC) No 4055/86 of 22 December 1986 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport between Member States and between Member States and third countries and (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) that objective has been attained with regard to maritime transport services as such.
  3. Port services are essential to the proper functioning of maritime transport since they make an essential contribution to the efficient use of maritime transport infrastructure.
  4. In the Green Paper on Sea Ports and Maritime Infrastructure of December 1997 the Commission indicated its intention of proposing a legislative framework in order to achieve access to the port services market in Community ports with international traffic. Therein, port services should be defined as those services of commercial value that are normally provided against payment in a port.
  5. Facilitatingaccess to the port services market at Community level should remove prevailing restrictions that hamper access for port service operators, improve the quality of service provided to users of the port, increase efficiency and flexibility, help reduce costs and thereby contribute to promoting short sea shipping and combined transport.
  6. Where the authorisation under this Directive takes the form of a contract falling within the scope of Directives 92/50/EEC, 93/36/EEC, 93/37/EEC and 93/38/EEC, these latter Directives apply. Equally, where applicable, Directives 89/48/EEC, 92/51/EEC and 99/42/EC on the mutual recognition of professional education and training apply.
  7. Diverse national legislations and practices have led to disparities in the procedures applied and have created legal uncertainty regarding the rights of providers of port services and the duties of competent authorities. It is in the Community's interest, therefore, to establish a Community legal framework which lays down basic rules on access to the port services market, the rights and obligations of current and prospective service providers, the managing bodies of the ports, as well as on the procedures accompanying the authorisations and selection processes.
  8. In accordance with principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty, the objectives of the proposed action, which is the access for any natural or legal person, established in the Community, to the market for port services, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member states because of the dimension of that action and can therefore be better achieved by the Community. This Directive confines itself to the minimum required in order to achieve that objective and does not go beyond what is necessary for that purpose.
  9. The Community legislation on access to port services does not exclude the application of other Community rules. Competition rules have already been applied to port services and are relevant in particular to monopoly situations.
  10. In the interest of an efficient and safe port management, Member States may require that service providers obtain authorisations. The criteria for granting such authorisations must be objective, transparent, non-discriminatory, relevant and proportional. They must be made public.
  11. Since ports are made up of limited geographical areas, access to the market may, in certain cases, meet capacity and available-space constraints and traffic-related safety constraints for technical-nautical services. In such cases it may therefore be necessary to limit the number of authorised providers of port services.
  12. The criteria for any limitation must be objective, transparent, non-discriminatory, relevant and proportional. In the case of cargo handling, and unless exceptional circumstances prevail, the number of service providers for each category of cargo handling must not be limited to fewer than two completely independent providers.
  13. Service providers should have the right to employ personnel of their own choice.
  14. Where the number of providers of port services is limited, these will need to be selected by the competent authority, according to a transparent, objective, open and fair selection procedure with non-discriminatory rules.
  15. In order to ensure that decisions and procedural measures under this Directive are taken, and are seen to be taken, by neutral bodies, the position of the managing body of a port which is itself, or wishes to become, a provider of a port service should be defined. It must be subject to the same conditions and procedures as other service providers whilst remaining in a position to ensure the functioning of the port. Therefore any decision on limiting the number of service providers and the selection itself must be entrusted to a neutral body and the managing body of a port shall not discriminate between service providers and between port users.
  16. It is therefore necessary to ensure non-discrimination between the managing body of the port and independent operators, as well as between managing bodies of different ports.
  17. In the financial field it is necessary to impose the obligation for managing bodies of ports covered by this Directive, which are also acting as service providers, to keep accounts for activities carried out in their function as managing bodies separate from those carried out on a competitive basis.
  18. Commission Directive n° 2000/52 of 26 July 2000 lays down, for a certain number of undertakings, the obligation to maintain separate accounts which only applies to undertakings whose total annual turnover for each of the last two years exceeded EUR 40 million.

    In the light of the introduction of the freedom to provide port services in the Community, it is necessary to ensure that the principle of separation of accounts applies to all ports falling within the scope of the present Directive and to impose on ports transparency rules that are not less strict than those laid down in the Commission Directive n° 2000/52.
  19. The requirement to keep accounts for port service activities should apply to all undertakings which have been selected to provide such services.
  20. Self-handling should be allowed and any criteria set for self-handlers should not be stricter than those set for providers of port services for the same or a comparable kind of service.
  21. Authorisations granted through a selection procedure should be limited in time. It is reasonable to take into account, when determining the period of authorisation, whether the provider has had to invest in assets or not and, where this is the case, whether these assets are moveable or not. Although such procedure should lead to an adequate outcome, it is nevertheless necessary to set maximum periods of authorisation.
  22. The current situation in the Community ports, with its multitude of authorisation and selection methods and periods, requires that clear transition periods be determined. These transition rules should distinguish between ports where the number of service providers is restricted and those ports where it is not.
  23. Where the number of service providers is not restricted, there is no reason to change the existing authorisations, whilst future ones should be granted in accordance with the Directive's rules.
  24. Where the number of service providers is restricted, the transitional periods should distinguish between authorisations granted in accordance with a public tender, or an equivalent procedure, or not; between situations where the service provider has made significant investments or not; and where these investments were made in moveable or immovable assets. The interests of legal certainty require that, in each case maximum periods be fixed, whilst leaving national authorities a substantial margin adequately to take into account the specificities of each case.
  25. Member States should determine the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of this Directive.
  26. Appeal procedures against decisions of the competent authorities should be in place.
  27. Member States must ensure an adequate level of social protection for the staff of undertakings providing port services.
  28. The provisions of this Directive in no way affect the rights and obligations of Member States in respect of law and order, safety and security at ports as well as environmental protection.
  29. This Directive does not affect the application of the rules of the Treaty; in particular the Commission will continue to ensure compliance with these rules by exercising, when necessary, all the powers granted to it by Article 86 of the Treaty.
  30. On the basis of Member States' reports on the application of this directive, the Commission should make an assessment accompanied, if appropriate, by a proposal for the Directive's revision,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1 - Objective

Freedom to provide port services shall apply to Community providers of port services under the provisions set out in this Directive. Providers of port services shall have access to port installations to the extent necessary for them to carry out their activities.

Article 2 - Scope

1. This Directive applies to those port services set out in the Annex which are provided inside the port area for users of the port.

2. This Directive applies to any sea port or port system located in the territory of a Member State and open to general commercial maritime traffic , provided that the port's average annual throughput over the last 3 years has not been less than 3 million tonnes or 500.000 passenger movements.

3. Where a port reaches the freight traffic threshold referred to in paragraph 2 without reaching the corresponding passenger movement threshold, the provisions of this Directive shall not apply to port services reserved exclusively for passengers. Where the passenger movement but not the freight traffic threshold is reached, the provisions of this Directive shall not apply to port services reserved exclusively for freight. The Commission shall publish for information, in the Official Journal of the European Communities and on the basis of information provided by Member States, a list of the ports referred to in this Article. The list shall first be published within three months following the entry into force of this Directive, and thereafter annually.

4. Member States may require that the providers of port services be established within the Community and that vessels used exclusively for the provision of port services shall be registered in, and fly the flag of a Member State.

Article 3

1. This Directive is without prejudice to the obligations for competent authorities which flow from Directive 92/50/EEC, Directive 93/36/EEC, Directive 93/37/EEC and Directive 93/38/EEC.

2. Where one of the Directives referred to in paragraph 1 makes the tendering of a service contract mandatory, Articles 8(1,2,3,4 and 5), 12(1and 2), and 13 of this Directive shall not apply to the award of that contract.

3. This Directive is without prejudice, where applicable, to the obligations of competent authorities which flow from Directives 89/48/EEC, 92/51/EEC and 99/42/EC on a mutual recognition among Member States of professional education and training.

Article 4 - Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive:

(1) 'sea port' (in this Directive referred to as 'port') is an area of land and water made up of such improvement works and equipment as to permit, principally, the reception of ships, their loading and unloading, the storage of goods, the receipt and delivery of these goods by inland transport, the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers;

(2) 'port system' means two or more ports grouped together to serve the same city or conurbation;

(3) 'port authority' or 'managing body of the port' (hereafter referred to as 'managing body of the port') means a body which, whether or not in conjunction with other activities, has as its objective under national law or regulation the administration and management of the port infrastructures, and the co-ordination and control of the activities of the different operators present in the port or port system concerned. It may consist of several separate bodies or be responsible for more than one port;

(4) 'port services' means the services of commercial value that are normally provided against payment in a port and which are listed in the Annex;

(5) 'provider of port services' means any natural or legal person providing, or wishing to provide, one or more categories of port services;

(6) 'public service requirement' is a requirement adopted by a competent authority in order to secure adequate provision of certain categories of port services;

(7) 'self-handling' means a situation in which a port user provides for itself one or more categories of port services and where normally no contract of any description with a third party is concluded for the provision of such services;

(8) 'authorisation' means any permission, including a contract, allowing a natural or legal person to provide port services or to carry out self-handling.

Article 5 - Competent authorities

Member States shall designate the competent authority or authorities for the purpose of implementing articles 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 19 of this Directive.

Article 6 - Authorisation

1. Member States may require that a provider of port services obtains prior authorisation under the conditions set out in par. (2), (3), (4) and (5). Authorisation shall be automatically granted to service providers selected under Article 8.

2. The criteria for the granting of the authorisation by the competent authority must be transparent, non-discriminatory, objective, relevant and proportional. The criteria may only relate to the provider's professional qualifications, his sound financial situation and sufficient insurance cover, to maritime safety or the safety of installations, equipment and persons. The authorisation may include public service requirements relating to safety, regularity, continuity, quality and price and the conditions under which the service may be provided.

3. Where the required professional qualifications include specific local knowledge or experience with local conditions, the competent authority must provide adequate training for applicant service providers.

4. Criteria referred to in paragraph (2) shall be made public and providers of port services shall be informed in advance of the procedure for obtaining the authorisation. This requirement applies equally to an authorisation linking the provision of service to an investment into immobile assets which will revert to the port upon expiry of the authorisation.

5. The provider of port services has the right to employ personnel of his own choice to carry out the service covered by the authorisation.

Article 7 - Limitations

1. Member States may only limit the number of providers of port services for reasons of constraints relating to available space or capacity or, for technical-nautical services, to maritime traffic-related safety. The competent authority must:

(a) inform interested parties of the category or categories of port services and the specific part of the port to which the restrictions apply as well as the reasons for such restrictions;

(b) allow the highest number of service providers possible under the circumstances.

2. Where constraints relating to available space or capacity exist and, for as long as there are no exceptional circumstances in relation to the volume of traffic and categories of cargoes, the competent authority shall authorise at least two service providers for each category of cargo, which shall be completely independent of each other.

3. Where the competent authority deciding on limitations in relation to the port in question is the managing body of that port and where the managing body itself or a service provider over which it has direct or indirect control or is involved in, is, or wishes to become, also a service provider in that port, Member States shall designate a different competent authority and entrust it with the decision, or approval of a decision, on limitations. This newly designated competent authority must be independent of the managing body of the port in question and must not:

(a) provide port services similar to those provided by any of the service providers in the port in question; and

(b) have any direct or indirect control over, or be involved in, any of the service providers in the port in question.

Article 8 - Selection procedure

1. Where the number of providers of port services has been limited in application of Article 7, the competent authority shall take the necessary measures to ensure a transparent and objective selection procedure, through tendering, using proportionate, non-discriminatory and relevant criteria.

2. The competent authority shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities an invitation to interested parties to participate in the selection process.

This publication may refer to the competent authority's or the port's own internet web-site or, where there is no such web-site, any other appropriate manner which makes the necessary information available in a timely way to any person interested in the process.

3. The competent authority shall include in its publication

(a) authorisation and selection criteria that define the authority's minimum requirements;

(b) award criteria that define the grounds on which the authority will choose among offers meeting the selection criteria; and

(c) conditions setting out the service requirements that the contract will cover and identifying any assets to be placed at the disposal of the successful tenderer together with the relevant terms and applicable rules.

4. The procedure shall provide for an interval of at least 52 days between the dispatch of the call for proposals and the latest date for receipt of them.

5. The competent authority shall include in the information it supplies to potential providers all relevant information it holds.

6. Where the competent authority carrying out the selection procedure in relation to the port in question is the managing body of that port and where the managing body itself or a service provider over which it has direct or indirect control or is involved in, is, or wishes to become, a service provider in that port, Member States shall designate a different competent authority and entrust it with the selection procedure in question. This newly designated competent authority must be independent of the managing body of the port in question and must not:

(a) provide port services similar to those provided by any of the service providers in the port in question; and

(b) have any direct or indirect control over, or be involved in, any of the service providers in the port in question.

Article 9 - Duration

Providers of port services shall be selected for a limited period of time to be determined in accordance with the following criteria:

1. In cases where the service provider will make no or insignificant investments in order to carry out the provision of services, the maximum duration of its authorisation shall be 5 years.

2. In cases where the service provider will make significant investments in

(a) moveable assets, the maximum period shall be 10 years;

(b) immovable assets, the maximum period shall be 25 years, irrespective of whether their ownership will revert to the port.

Article 10 - Accounting provisions

The competent authority shall oblige the selected service providers to keep separate accounts for each port service in question. The compilation of the accounts must accord with current commercial practice and generally recognised accounting principles.

Article 11 - Self-handling

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to allow self-handling to be carried out in accordance with this Directive.

2. Self-handling may be subject to an authorisation for which the criteria must not be stricter than those applying to providers of the same or a comparable port service.

Article 12 - Managing body of the port

1. Where the managing body of the port provides port services, it must fulfil the criteria set out in Article 6 and separate the accounts of each of its port service activities from the accounts of its other activities. The compilation of the accounts must accord with current commercial practice and generally recognised accounting principles to ensure that:

(a) the internal accounts corresponding to different activities are separate;

(b) all costs and revenues are correctly assigned or allocated on the basis of consistently applied and objectively justifiable cost accounting principles;

(c) the cost accounting principles according to which separate accounts are maintained are clearly identified.

2. The auditor's report on the annual accounts must indicate the existence of any financial flows between the port service activity of the managing body of the port and its other activities. The auditor's report must be kept by the Member States and made available to the Commission upon request.

3. Where as a result of a selection procedure under Article 8 no suitable service provider could be found for a specific port service, the competent authority may, under the conditions of paragraph (1) of this Article, reserve the provision of this service to the managing body of the port for a maximum period of 5 years.

4. The managing body of the port shall not discriminate between service providers. It shall in particular refrain from any discrimination in favour of an undertaking or body in which it holds an interest.

5. The provisions of this Directive in no way affect the rights and obligations of Member States in respect of the Transparency Directive n° 2000/52/EC.

Article 13 - Appeals

1. Member States shall ensure that any party with a legitimate interest has the right to appeal against the decisions or individual measures taken, under this Directive, by competent authorities or the managing body of the port.

2. Where an application for access to provide port services under this Directive is rejected, the applicant(s) shall be informed of the reasons for not having been authorised or selected. Such reasons must be objective, non-discriminatory, well-founded and duly substantiated. Appeal procedures must be made available to the applicant. It must be possible to bring the appeal before a national court or a public authority that is independent in its organisation, funding, legal structure and decision-making of the competent authority or managing body of the port concerned and from any service provider.

3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that decisions taken by appeal bodies are subject to judicial review.

Article 14 - Safety, security and environmental protection

The provisions of this Directive in no way affect the rights and obligations of Member States in respect of law and order, safety and security at ports as well as environmental protection.

Article 15 - Social protection

Without prejudice to the application of this Directive, and subject to the other provisions of Community law, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the application of their social legislation.

Article 16 - Transitional measures

1. Where the number of providers of port services in a port is not limited by constraints relating to available space or capacity or maritime safety, existing authorisations may remain in force unchanged until such time as the number becomes limited. New authorisations must comply with the provisions of this Directive.

2. Where the number of providers of port services in a port is limited, the rules of points (a) to (e) apply.

a) Where an existing authorisation was granted after a public tender or an equivalent procedure and is otherwise in conformity with the rules of this Directive, the authorisation may remain in force unchanged.

b) Where an existing authorisation was not granted in conformity with the rules of this Directive and where the service provider has made no or insignificant investments, a new authorisation procedure in conformity with the rules of this Directive must be carried out within 2 years of the date of transposition of this Directive in the case of a sole service provider and within 4 years in all other cases.

c) Where in the context of an existing authorisation a service provider has made significant investments in moveable assets, the following shall apply:

(i) Where the authorisation was not granted in conformity with the rules of this Directive but was preceded by a public tender or an equivalent procedure, the maximum duration of the existing authorisation shall be 10 years;

(ii) Where the authorisation was not granted in conformity with the rules of this Directive and was not preceded by a public tender or an equivalent procedure, a new authorisation procedure in conformity with the rules of this Directive must be carried out within 3 years of the date of transposition of this Directive in the case of a sole service provider and within 5 years in all other cases.

d) Where in the context of an existing authorisation a service provider has made significant investments in immovable assets, the following shall apply:

(i) Where the authorisation was not granted in conformity with the rules of this Directive but was preceded by a public tender or an equivalent procedure, the maximum duration of the existing authorisation shall be 25 years;

(ii) Where the authorisation was not granted in conformity with the rules of this Directive and was not preceded by a public tender or an equivalent procedure, a new authorisation procedure in conformity with the rules of this Directive must be carried out within 5 years of the date of transposition of this Directive in the case of a sole service provider and within 8 years in all other cases.

e) Where in the context of an existing authorisation a service provider has made significant investments in moveable and immovable assets, point (d) shall apply.

Article 17 - Information report and revision

Member States shall send the Commission a report on the application of this Directive no later than 3 years after the date of transposition.

On the basis of the Member States' reports, the Commission will make an assessment of the implementation by Member States of the Directive accompanied, where appropriate, by a proposal for its revision.

Article 18 - Implementation

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than one year from the date of its entrance into force. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 19

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 20 - Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

[…][…]

ANNEX

LIST OF PORTS SERVICES CONCERNED BY THIS DIRECTIVE

(1) Technical-nautical services

(a) Pilotage

(b) Towage

(c) Mooring

(2) Cargo handling including

(a) stevedoring, stowage, transhipment and other intra-terminal transport;

(b) Storage, depot and warehousing, depending on cargo categories;

(c) Cargo consolidation.

(3) Passenger services (including embarkation and disembarkation)

›››File
FROM THE HOME PAGE
European Commission meeting to define the strategy for the development of EU ports and maritime industry
Brussels
Call for papers by July 28th
Assarmatori asks for support for Italian seafarers employed on short-haul routes and for the renewal of ferry fleets
Assarmatori asks for support for Italian seafarers employed on short-haul routes and for the renewal of ferry fleets
Rome
Messina: State Aid regime needs to be redesigned for European shipyards
In the first four months of 2025, maritime container traffic between Asia and Europe grew by +4.8%
Tokyo
-6.4% drop in shipments to Asian ports. +9.0% increase in unloading volumes in Europe
The impact on Italy of a possible closure of the maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz would be significant
Rome
The merchant fleet for energy products controlled by the Italian shipping industry interested in these traffics amounts to approximately 80 units.
Cargo traffic in China's seaports grew by +3.7% last month
Cargo traffic in China's seaports grew by +3.7% last month
Beijing
Containers amounted to 26.7 million TEU (+6.1%)
In 2024, 576 containers were lost at sea out of over 250 million transported by ships
Washington
About 200 have fallen from container ships in the Cape of Good Hope region
FMC questions deal exempting World Shipping Council companies from US antitrust rules
Washington
Meanwhile, Sola, appointed by Trump on January 20 to the presidency of the federal agency, is leaving his post today.
The European maritime-port sector nitpicks the reform of the Community customs rules
Brussels
Note from CLECAT, ECASBA, European Shipowners, ESPO, Feport and WSC
EU Council agrees on reform of the Union Customs Code
Brussels
CLECAT is concerned about the persistence of the concept of "Single Liable Person" in the text
In the first three months of 2025, freight traffic in the port of Civitavecchia grew by +2.4%
Civitavecchia
Increase of +9.9% in Gaeta and decrease of -17.1% in Fiumicino
Le Aziende informanoSponsored Article
Accelleron consolida le partnership con Somas e Geislinger per sostenere l'efficienza e la sostenibilità del settore marittimo
Japanese shipbuilding company Imabari Shipbuilding acquires control of fellow Japanese JMU
Imabari/Tokyo
Ownership share increased from 30% to 60%
WTO: New tariffs have given a boost to trade that is unlikely to last
Geneva
Recovery driven by importers who brought forward purchases in view of expected tariff increases
Terminal Investments Limited of the MSC Group acquires 50% of the capital of Barcelona Europe South Terminal
Barcelona
The transaction was authorized by the Port Authority of Barcelona
There are no implementing decrees for the SalvaMare law and Italian citizens are paying for the management of fished waste that is not carried out
Rome
The Marevivo Foundation and the Federation of the Sea report it
In five and a half years, 1,244 tons of drugs have been seized in EU ports
In five and a half years, 1,244 tons of drugs have been seized in EU ports
Lisbon
The largest quantities pass through ports in Belgium, Spain, Holland, Italy and Germany
The International Convention on Ship Recycling will enter into force tomorrow
Copenhagen
BIMCO urges EU to include Indian shipyards in EU list of ship recycling facilities
Assologistica presents the "Cruscotto" project to ensure transparency and legality in the logistics sector
Milan
Ruggerone: it is an infrastructure of trust between clients and operators
Federagenti, cruises cannot and must not become the target of an indiscriminate hate campaign
Federagenti, cruises cannot and must not become the target of an indiscriminate hate campaign
Rome
A "Pact for the Sea" proposed with solutions to tackle overtourism for which passenger ships are not to blame
New step forward for the construction of the underground freight transport system in Switzerland
New step forward for the construction of the underground freight transport system in Switzerland
Bern
Cargo sous terrain plans to build a 500-kilometer system by mid-century
Carnival posts record earnings for March-May period
Carnival posts record earnings for March-May period
Miami
The number of cruise passengers embarked also peaked this quarter
Federlogistica, it is reckless to activate railway construction sites without a concerted plan
Genoa
Falteri: Isolating the port of Genoa from the railway network for three weeks means putting the whole of Northern Italy in difficulty
Multipurpose terminals privatized in eight Saudi ports
Multipurpose terminals privatized in eight Saudi ports
Riyadh
Four will be operated by Saudi Global Ports and four by Red Sea Gateway Terminal
Public debate launched on the project for Pier VIII in the port of Trieste
Public debate launched on the project for Pier VIII in the port of Trieste
Trieste
A total investment of 315.8 million euros is expected
South Korea's HD Hyundai partners with US Edison Chouest Offshore to build containerships in US
South Korea's HD Hyundai partners with US Edison Chouest Offshore to build containerships in US
Seoul
The possibility of building other types of ships and constructing port cranes is foreseen
Rixi: with the Omnibus decree, Phase B of the new Genoa breakwater is guaranteed
Rome
Expenditure of 50 million euros authorised for 2026 and 92.8 million for 2027
Israel-Iran conflict prompts Maersk to suspend calls at Haifa port
Copenhagen
Those at the port of Ashdod will continue instead.
Northern European Nations Commitment to Counter Russian Shadow Fleet
Warsaw
If the vessels do not fly a valid flag in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea - they specify - we will take appropriate measures in compliance with international law.
Freight traffic in French ports stable in the first quarter of 2025
Freight traffic in French ports stable in the first quarter of 2025
The Defense
Containers and liquid bulk on the rise. Increase in unloading loads and decrease in loading loads
Cognolato (Assiterminal): Today more than ever we need a coherent port policy
Rome
All the critical issues highlighted in recent years still remain open - he highlighted.
Alessandro Pitto confirmed as president of Fedespedi
Milan
The Board of Directors, the Board of Arbiters and the Board of Auditors have been renewed
A protest action by Greek seafarers is heated, with the PENEN and PNO unions launching very serious accusations, including mutual ones
Piraeus
The strike, declared illegal by the courts, blocks some ships of the Attica group in the port of Patras
Saipem awarded contract for a phosphate mining project in Algeria that includes the upgrading of the port of Annaba
Milan
The construction of railway lines is also planned
Suez Canal celebrates return of large-capacity containership transits
Suez Canal celebrates return of large-capacity containership transits
Ismailia
Today it was crossed by the vessel "CMA CGM Osiris" which can carry 15,536 teu
IMO, ILO, ICS and ITF urge protection of seafarers' rights against unjust criminalisation
London
The "Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Relation to Alleged Offences" were adopted in April
Trump's new tariffs also hit container traffic at the Port of Long Beach
Long Beach
In the first five months of 2025, an increase of +17.2% was recorded
Transfer of the port of Carrara from the Ligurian to the Tuscan AdSP not without a discussion with the operators
Milan
Dario Perioli, FHP, Grendi and Tarros ask for it
Up to $768 billion in investments needed to adapt world ports to rising sea levels
New York
Port of Los Angeles Feels Impact of New Tariffs on Container Traffic
Los Angeles
A decrease of -4.8% was recorded in May
Assagenti proposes a task force to solve port, logistics and industrial problems
Genoa
A "problem solver" consultative body composed, in addition to the categories of the maritime cluster, of the manufacturing industries of the North-West quadrant
Cargo traffic at the port of Singapore fell by -4.6% in May
Singapore
New crane overturned for delivery in new Tuas port area
In the first quarter of 2025, freight traffic on the Swiss rail network fell by -6.4%
Neuchatel
Service performance at 2.35 billion tonne-km, down -8.2%
ANGOPI fears that new measures to ensure maritime continuity will penalise mooring services
ANGOPI fears that new measures to ensure maritime continuity will penalise mooring services
Ischia
Power: it is necessary to remove them from a perverse mechanism
Dutch HES International to operate bulk terminal in Marseille-Fos port
Marseille
The concession contract will have a minimum duration of 30 years
Ibiza government opposes Trasmed's overnight stay on board ferry program
Ibiza/Valencia
It is considered a "clandestine hotel", while the company defines it as a cruise service
Bruno Pisano appointed extraordinary commissioner of the AdSP of the Eastern Ligurian Sea
Rome
He will take up his post next Monday
Federlogistica proposes a comparison between operators on the congestion fee while waiting for a solution from the government
Genoa
In the first five months of 2025, container traffic in the port of Gioia Tauro grew by +10.3%
Joy Taurus
1,813,071 TEUs were handled
Trasportounito, truck waiting times in ports must be paid
Genoa
Tagnochetti: The Port Fee aims to redistribute the costs of all disruptions more equitably
Commissioners of the AdSPs of the Northern Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Western Liguria appointed
Rome/Genoa
Trade unions concerned about the future of Genoa Port Terminal workers
Political instability and green transition are the main problems that shipping faces
London
This is highlighted in the "ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2024-2025"
The new container terminal of the port of Termini Imerese presented
Palermo
Transfer of traffic handled by Portitalia to the port of Palermo
GCMD survey confirms shipping's commitment to decarbonisation
Singapore
Ports concerned about lack of certainty about demand from shipping companies
The EU Commission has re-identified Port Said East and Tanger Med as neighbouring container transhipment ports
Brussels
Road haulage extends congestion fee application to Livorno port
Livorno/Rome/Milan/Genoa
Fedespedi, they do not solve the problems, but have the only effect of increasing costs
The new Border Control Post has been inaugurated in the port of Livorno
Leghorn
The structure cost 15 million euros
The transfer of 80% of Louis-Dreyfus Armateurs' capital to InfraVia has been implemented
Suresnes/Paris
The Louis-Dreyfus family retains the remaining 20%
Port of Genoa, green light for extension of concession to Spinelli until September 30
Genoa
Ok also to the extension to the Campostano group
The National Maritime Fund has started the recognition of scholarships
Genoa
They are granted for basic training and security familiarization courses.
RFI and MIT sign the update to the program contract for approximately 2.1 billion
Rome
Around 500 million euros expected for the management of the railway network
San Giorgio del Porto delivers a vessel for the bunkering of liquefied natural gas
Genoa
It was built for Genova Trasporti Marittimi
Pisano (AdSP Liguria Orientale): the ports of La Spezia and Carrara have integrated almost perfectly
La Spezia/Bari
Extraordinary Commissioner of the Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority appointed
Raffaele Latrofa appointed president of the AdSP of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea
Rome
He is the deputy mayor of Pisa
India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Acquires Control of Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard
Mumbai
Investment of approximately 53 million dollars
The Commissioner of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority has been granted the powers and prerogatives of the Management Committee
Genoa
The measure pending the restoration of the ordinary top management bodies
The Three-Year Operational Plan 2025-2027 of the Central Adriatic Port Authority has been approved
Ancona
Favorable opinion of the Sea Resource Partnership Body
The public meeting of the International Containers Studies Center will be held in Genoa on July 2nd
Genoa
It will deal with the physical transformations of the container and the digitalization of processes
Andrea Ormesani is the new president of Assosped Venezia
Venice
The board of directors has been renewed. Paolo Salvaro remains general secretary
Witte (ISU): In 2024, the ship salvage sector stabilized from the low of two years ago
London
Finnish Elomatic to Install Tunnel Thrusters on 11 Carnival Cruise Ships
Turku
The works will begin next autumn and will end in 2028
The Assarmatori assembly will be held in Rome on July 1st
Rome
"Mediterranean against the current" the theme of the meeting
Fincantieri has delivered the new cruise ship Viking Vesta to the American Viking
Trieste/Los Angeles
It was built in the Ancona shipyard
The Genoa Coast Guard has placed the container ship PL Germany under administrative detention
Genoa
Italian Navy orders two new Multipurpose Combat Ships from Fincantieri
Trieste
The order to the shipbuilding company is worth 700 million euros
MSC Group to manage cruise services in the ports of Bari and Brindisi
Bari
Ten-year concession with possibility of extension
German Kombiverkehr Returns to Profit in 2024
Frankfurt am Main
The level of revenues remained unchanged at 434.6 million euros.
Deltamarin to design the six new ro-pax vessels ordered by Grimaldi for the Mediterranean routes
Turku
SAILING LIST
Visual Sailing List
Departure ports
Arrival ports by:
- alphabetical order
- country
- geographical areas
The practice of subcontracting in European logistics is creating a parallel labour market where rights are not enforced
Brussels
"Sorry, We Subcontracted You" Report Presented
Tomorrow Grendi will launch the group's fourth ship on routes to and from Sardinia
Milan
"Grendi Star", with a load capacity of 2,800 linear meters, will connect Marina di Carrara and Cagliari
FREMM frigates operational support contract signed between Orizzonte Sistemi Navali and OCCAR
Taranto
The agreement has a total value of approximately 764 million euros
Call to reform the entire driver training system in the transport sector
Rome
Seven proposals presented
In the port of Gioia Tauro, the Guardia di Finanza soldiers seized 228 kilos of cocaine
Reggio Calabria
Two dockers arrested
Port of Livorno, new observatory to find solutions to the problem of port congestion
Leghorn
Marilli: We will seek solutions to reach the possible revocation of the port fee
Lockton PL Ferrari closed the last fiscal year with gross revenues of 34 million dollars
Genoa
Insurance premium volume rose to 350 million
Polish Trans Polonia Group acquires Dutch Nijman/Zeetank Holding
Tczew
It specializes in the transportation and logistics of liquid and gaseous products
d'Amico Tankers Sells Two 2011-Built Tankers for $36.2 Million
Luxembourg
They will be delivered to buyers by the end of July and on December 21st.
The Italian Merchant Marine Academy plans 13 new free courses
Genoa
Over 300 positions available
A delegation of Wista Italy visits the ports of Catania and Augusta
Catania/August
The association is made up of women who hold positions of responsibility in the maritime, logistics and trade sectors.
In the first five months of 2025, the port of Algeciras handled 1.9 million containers (-6.3%)
Algeciras
Empty containers decreased by -5.5% and full ones by -6.4%
Reway Group enters the port railway infrastructure maintenance sector
Licciana Nardi
Two contracts awarded by the AdSP of the Eastern Ligurian Sea
Delcomar and Ensamar take over maritime services with the smaller Sardinian islands
Cagliari
The tender for the six-year concession of the connections has been awarded
Port of Trieste, the newly appointed Gurrieri torpedoes the newly appointed Torbianelli
Trieste
Russo (Pd): it's a squalid power game
Singapore's SeaLead expands its maritime shipping offering to connect Turkey and Italy
Singapore
Route connected to services transiting the Suez Canal
The US Container Security Initiative program has been extended to Morocco
Rabat
Amrani: Let's consolidate Tanger Med's role as a safe and world-class maritime hub
Very positive first quarter for Greek Euroseas
Athens
Pittas: the positive momentum continued in the second quarter
Assonat and SACE present a plan for Italian tourist ports
Rome
Kuehne+Nagel has opened a new branch in Naples
Milan
The aim is to support the operational growth of the group in Southern Italy
RINA has acquired the entire capital of Finnish Foreship
Helsinki
The Helsinki-based company specializes in consulting in the field of marine and mechanical engineering.
Container traffic down at Barcelona and Valencia ports in May
Barcelona/Valencia
Resumption of containers in transit at the Catalan port
Annual cargo traffic in Greek ports stable in 2024
Piraeus
Domestic volumes are growing, while foreign trade is decreasing
Perplexity of freight forwarders, customs agents and maritime agents of La Spezia at the transfer of the port of Carrara to the Tuscan AdSP
The Spice
Timidly, they "hope for consideration for the progress made so far"
Francesco Mastro appointed extraordinary commissioner of the Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority
Rome
He will take up office on June 30th.
John Denholm to be new president of the International Chamber of Shipping
Athens
He will take over from Emanuele Grimaldi in a year
Extraordinary commissioners of the two Ligurian Port System Authorities have been installed
Genoa/La Spezia
Matteo Paroli and Bruno Pisano at the helm of the institutions
Container traffic at Hong Kong port drops sharply in May
Hong Kong
1.05 million TEUs were handled (-12.7%)
Assogasliquidi-Federchimica shows the way to accelerate the decarbonization of road and maritime transport
Rome
Amadei: Our sector is ready and the time has come for courageous industrial choices
Eagle S tanker command blamed for cutting submarine cables in Gulf of Finland
Advantages
The accident was caused by the ship's anchor
Online platform to report critical issues that put transport workers at risk
Genoa
It was prepared by Fit Cisl Liguria
GNV to create a direct summer connection between Civitavecchia and Tunis
Genoa
It will run alongside the historic route via Palermo
The unification of Grimaldi's concessions in the port of Barcelona has been completed
Madrid/Barcelona
The contract expires on September 20, 2035.
In the first five months of 2025, cargo traffic in Russian ports fell by -4.9%
St. Petersburg
A decrease of approximately -12% was recorded in May
Raben Logistics Group Creates Subsidiary in Türkiye
Milan
It will have 20 employees and a 2,000 square meter cross-dock warehouse
Alberto Dellepiane confirmed as president of Assorimorchiatori
Rome
The composition of the entire association leadership remains unchanged
Agreement between Fincantieri and Indonesian PMM to develop solutions to face new unconventional underwater challenges
PORTS
Italian Ports:
Ancona Genoa Ravenna
Augusta Gioia Tauro Salerno
Bari La Spezia Savona
Brindisi Leghorn Taranto
Cagliari Naples Trapani
Carrara Palermo Trieste
Civitavecchia Piombino Venice
Italian Interports: list World Ports: map
DATABASE
ShipownersShipbuilding and Shiprepairing Yards
ForwardersShip Suppliers
Shipping AgentsTruckers
MEETINGS
The Assarmatori assembly will be held in Rome on July 1st
Rome
"Mediterranean against the current" the theme of the meeting
The public meeting of the International Containers Studies Center will be held in Genoa on July 2nd
Genoa
››› Meetings File
PRESS REVIEW
US has its eye on Greek ports
(Kathimerini)
Proposed 30% increase for port tariffs to be in phases, says Loke
(Free Malaysia Today)
››› Press Review File
FORUM of Shipping
and Logistics
Intervento del presidente Tomaso Cognolato
Roma, 19 giugno 2025
››› File
Structural adaptation works on dock 23 of the port of Ancona awarded
Ancona
Intervention worth over 11.8 million euros
Conference on the role of LNG and bioLNG for the decarbonisation of transport and industry
Rome
The Federchimica-Assogasliquidi event will take place on Monday in Rome
Dutch Bolidt increases presence in cruise ship sector with acquisition of American Boteka
Hendrik Ido Ambacht
Contship Italia has acquired the Genoese customs services company STS
Melzo
The Ligurian company was founded in 1985
Francesco Benevolo has been appointed extraordinary commissioner of the AdSP of the Central-Northern Adriatic Sea
Rome
He is the operations director of RAM - Logistics, Infrastructure and Transport
Montaresi resigns as commissioner of the Eastern Ligurian Port Authority
The Spice
In the eight months of administration - he underlines - we have not lost even a second
Gurrieri has been appointed extraordinary commissioner of the AdSP of the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Trieste
Pending the completion of the formal process for the designation of the president
The commissioners of the AdSP of Western Liguria have handed over their mandate to Minister Salvini
Genoa
The decision is part of the process of designation and nomination of the new leaders
Confetra criticizes the provisions of the decree-law Infrastructure for road transport
Rome
The Confederation urges the blocking of the process of appointing the presidents of the port authorities
Taiwanese Evergreen, Yang Ming and WHL saw revenue decline in May
Keelung/Taipei
The decline is accentuated for the two main companies
South Korea's KSOE wins order to build eight 15,900 TEU containerships
Seongnam
The unit value of each vessel is approximately $221 million.
First port terminal for car traffic of Greek Neptune Lines
Piraeus
It will be inaugurated next year in the French port of Port-La Nouvelle
The assembly of the association of Genoese maritime agents and brokers will be held on June 16th
Genoa
Round Table on Genoa, the hub of the North West and the Mediterranean
BN di Navigazione Board of Directors Renewed
Genoa
BluNavy aims to reach one million passengers by 2025
Viking Line designs world's largest all-electric ro-pax vessel
Viking Line designs world's largest all-electric ro-pax vessel
Åland
Record Monthly Container Traffic at Turkish Ports
Ankara
In May, almost 1.4 million TEUs were handled (+17.6%)
Sergio Landolfi has been elected president of the Customs Association of the Port of La Spezia
The Spice
The board of directors has been renewed
The ferry industry elite will attend the Interferry conference in Salerno in October
Victoria
Event titled "Connections"
Uniport launches an initiative to support ALS research
Rome
Fundraising for the NeMO Clinical Center Serena Foundation Onlus
The Propeller Club of Genoa has analyzed risks and opportunities of using AI in the maritime and insurance sectors
Genoa
The importance of training in the use of technology was highlighted
Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers luxury cruising yacht Luminara to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Saint Nazaire
The ship will debut in Alaska
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