EU environmental regulation and shipping

Mats Fielding, of Skuld, reviews some recent regulatory action from the European Union as it affects the shipping sector

The European Union (EU) is a global leader when it comes to protecting the environment. The executive body of the EU, the European Commission, issues regulations (legislation that is immediately enforceable in all member states) and directives (a piece of legislation that EU member states must implement into national legislation) to establish standards, procedures and penalties to prevent and remedy damages to the environment. The shipping industry is a segment that is directly affected by EU regulations and directives. A shipowner that is operating a vessel that is not in compliance with EU regulations and directives could be faced with a detained vessel, fines and/or criminal penalties. Thereby it is worth a shipowner’s every penny to do their “homework” before instructing a vessel to the EU.