A Cyprus-flagged ship is one of ten ships that have been banned from a European port since July and seven others are under notice according to a new blacklist published by the European Commission.
The Commission on Friday published its first-ever list of ships banned from EU ports under the new European rules on port State control. The Commission has also published on its Europa Internet server the indicative list of ships which risk being banned if they are detained in an EU port again. There are seven Cyprus-flagged ships on the warning list.
“Today, the Prestige and the Erika would not enter in European waters: from now on no tanker of this category can enter in our ports, nor transport heavy grades of fuel in single-hull tankers,” said Loyola de Palacio, Commission Vice-President responsible for transport and energy.
“The strengthened Port State control in the EU is another crucial measure: we must hunt the sub-standard ships. And I hope that by publishing the list of ships now banned from EU ports and the list of ships which will be banned in the near future if, when they are inspected again, the findings are unfavourable, will prompt shipowners and flag States to take the necessary safety measures in respect of all the ships concerned.”
“This measure is part of the legislative package adopted after the Erika and Prestige disasters to fight against the oil spills and makes our seas safer. This legislation represents a spectacular step ahead, but we must maintain the pressure in order to improve the maritime safety at the world level and guarantee a strict application by the Member States.”
Since July 22 this year, when the amendments to the port State control directive adopted as part of the Erika-II package entered into force, ten ships have been banned from EU ports. Between them, they fly the flags of seven different States: Cambodia (4), Cyprus (1), Honduras (1), Lebanon (1), Panama (1), St Vincent and the Grenadines (1) and Turkey (1). Most of the ships listed are bulk carriers, but there are also two chemical tankers and one oil tanker, a statement said. Cyprus is the only acceding country on the list.
With a view to ensuring transparency, and to deter those who already fall short of the relevant safety standards, European port State control rules require the Commission to publish the list of ships that have been refused access to EU ports.
In its six-monthly monitoring report on Cyprus’ accession published earlier this month, the EU expressed serious concern over the country’s performance on maritime safety and flag state policy and resources.
