SPANISH MARITIME NEWS (I)

1.- EU COURT RULING: AMENDMENT OF SPANISH STOWAGE

The EU Court ruled last December 11th, 2014, that the Spanish regulations on stowage (Royal Legislative Decree No. 2 / 2011, 5 September, which approves the Revised Text of the Law of the State Ports and the Merchant Marine) are incompatible with the provisions of article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

This article states that restrictions on the freedom of establishment of nationals of a Member State in the territory of another State shall be prohibited. As a result of it, the Spanish Government is negotiating a new text with stevedores companies and trade unions which is due to come out next February, 11th.

2.- THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SPANISH MERCHANT FLEET

According to the last report published by the Spanish Shipowners Association (ANAVE), "Merchant Marine and Maritime Transport 2013 / 2014", the Spanish merchant fleet is presently comprised of 126 ships, all of them registered in the Special Canary Islands Register and operated by Spanish and foreign shipping companies. Throughout 2013 this fleet decreased by 10 units, and in number of ships passenger ships remain currently the highest share (35%), followed by general cargo ships (16,7%), oil tankers (12,7%), ro-ro ships (11,1%) and gas tankers (9,5%).

3.- SEA MOTORWAY: VIGO (SPAIN) / NANTES-SAINT NAZAIRE (FRANCE)

The port of Vigo (Spain) and the ports of Nantes and Saint Nazaire (France) are connected by sea after the opening of a motorway between them. This sea motorway is being operated by two ships, L'Audace and La Surprise, belonging to the Spanish shipping company Suardiaz. The aim is to decongest the traffic of trucks from the roads, minimize costs and reduce the environmental impact.