Members of FEPORT are raising concerns about the risks of cargo diversion as the new European Union’s ETS emissions regulations will be live next January.
They are calling for a “real study” regarding the impact of the new regulation on EU ports to be conducted now and not in two years´ time when cargo will have left some EU ports for good.
Ports have not been in the radar of the EU Commission when EU ETS for shipping was discussed, and the real risks of cargo diversion have not been really assessed, highlighted Gunther Bonz, FEPORT president.
“We are now in a situation where our terminals can become less competitive and attractive for shipping lines which do not intend to pass on the additional ETS costs to their customers and call-in non-EU ports.”
FEPORT which represents the interests of large variety of terminal operators and stevedoring companies intends to have a constructive dialogue with the EU Commission regarding possible solutions to avoid cargo diversion.
Gunther Bonz, FEPORT president, noted: “This was not EU policy makers’ aim but it is the result. The clock is ticking for EU ports. This is why we are calling the EU Commission to start immediately a study and to also perform a continuous assessment in real-time of the impact of EU ETS for Shipping now. The terms of reference of the study should consider all solutions that are currently proposed by different port stakeholders to avoid cargo diversion. It is important that we all do our utmost efforts to avoid a detrimental effect on employment in EU ports” concludes FEPORT president.
During their gathering in Antwerp for the General Assembly meeting of their organization its members welcomed Port of Lübeck as a new member.
“We are glad that Port of Lübeck has decided to join FEPORT as the more terminals we are in raising awareness about the role of terminal operators in terms of investment and modernization of EU ports, the better it is particularly in the current context of fierce international competition and major economic and environmentally related challenges” said Bonz.
Sebastian Jürgens and Mr Ortwin Harms, managing directors of LHG, noted: “Joining FEPORT will give a strong boost to our networking at European level. Together with our Nordic and Baltic partners, we can use this channel to promote our Baltic Sea network even better.”
