EU PORTS PACKAGE

March 16th, 2012 by JCB
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EU PORTS PACKAGE UPDATE

As you will recall from the last issue, the EU is reviving the twice rejected  Ports Package which seeks to introduce “Better transparency and market access” into EU ports. In particular, the Commission wants to remove what they consider to be illegal monopolistic practices in the “Technical Nautical” services, which specifically includes pilotage and open them up to competition.

A Glimmer of hope has emerged following a meeting last December where EMPA President Jacques Sauban, along with other EMPA pilots, was able to discuss the pilotage issue directly with the EU Commission members of unit B3 :Ports and Inland Navigation.

At that meeting EMPA was able to emphasise the unique nature of pilotage and the essential role that pilots play in the public interest by ensuring the safety of navigation in port approaches all of which are in highly sensitive environmental areas. The well documented reduction in navigation safety in areas where competitive pilotage had been introduced was also explained.

It is very encouraging that the Commission were willing to meet with EMPA and have been provided with an authoritative overview of pilotage. Jacques reports that the meeting went well and the EU team were open minded on the options. They have agreed to liaise with EMPA during the consultation period.

This once again proves the value of UKMPA membership.

 

Office of Fair Trading

Opposition to the EU Ports proposals has also come from the unlikely source of the OFT who have provided a detailed analysis of UK port operations to the Commission. In the UK the non State ownership of ports has led to a situation where ports are in competition with each other and the OFT has had very few complaints from port users complaining about monopolies or restrictive trading practices. The OFT is therefore satisfied that the UK ports sector is already fully compliant with EU competition laws. Good news but no room for complacency. JCB