1.- ISM CODE: CHANGE

Last June 2013 the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee adopted several amendments to the International Safety Management Code (ISM). These changes, which are due to come into force next January 2015, concern, inter alia, the manning levels. According to them, the company should ensure that each ship is manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers.

1.-EGYPT: NEW SUEZ CANAL

Egypt is planning to build a new Suez Canal alongside the existing 145-year-old historic waterway in a multibillion dollar project to expand trade along the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia. This project will increase the capacity from 49 to 96 vessels and reduce from 11 to 3 hours the waiting time.

If you're thinking about investing in Portugal, our one minute fact-sheet gives you the essential information at a glance.

1.-JUDGEMENT ON STOWAGE: EC v. SPAIN

The European Commission has decided to bring Spain before the Court of Justice of Luxembourg for failure to comply with the judgement issued by the latter on December, 11, 2014. In this judgement the Court ruled that the Spanish legislation on dock work ( Royal Decree 2/ 2011, of September 5)) is contrary to the freedom of establishment enshrined in article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).