Bibliothèque

Ahead of next week’s Offshore Working Group meeting of the European Commission’s European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF), the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association (KBRV) sends a stark warning about the looming aberrations for the offshore shipping sector with next year’s ETS implementation.

The Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association (KBRV) welcomes the Flemish Government’s decision to mobilise up to €2 billion in support of sustainable industrial transition projects, as announced today by Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele at the “Klimaatsprong voor de industrie” event organised by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).

The Royal Belgian Shipowners Association (KBRV) applauds the outcomes of the Hamburg North Sea Summit on 26 January and welcomes the renewed political commitment to accelerate offshore wind development in the North Sea, including the new capacity targets and investment pact.

From 21-22 October, Antwerp will host the annual summit of the Global Maritime Forum.

Published in the latest edition of the European Transport Law (ETL) Review, the position paper entitled "Charting Uncertain Seas: Legal Ambiguities and Compliance Strategies in EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime Regulations" explores the legal and operational challenges introduced by the EU's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on shipping, and the FuelEU Maritime initiative.

On behalf of its members, the Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association (KBRV) welcomes Belgium's takeover of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which lasts six months until the end of June 2024.

With the extension of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) to maritime transport in 2024, the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association is organising a kick-off info session for its members this coming 27 October. Representatives of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport will also take part in the event.

Exactly a year ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. This major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War plunged Europe and the rest of the world into an energy and food crisis. This invasion surprised many who thought that armed conflicts of this degree would nowadays not be possible on European soil. Especially after a global pandemic that had just brought the whole world to its knees by incapacitating the supply chain of goods and raw material.

According to the annual piracy report published recently by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), piracy and armed robbery at sea last year has reached an all-time low since 1994. But the threat remains.