Finland does not want to make public a list of safe refuges for crippled ships
EU tightening directive on sheltering leaking tankers
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Finland is opposed to moves calling on it to draw up a list of safe areas along its coastline for stricken ships.
In a fresh statement to the European Commission, the Finnish government says that making public such a list would not be justified, and that international treaties do not require Finland to do so.
According to the Finnish view, the publication of the information should be left up to each member state. Finland also feels that each country should decide on whether or not to provide detailed information to the Commission.
The Commission’s proposal is part of proposed amendments to the directive for monitoring shipping. It would clarify existing regulations, and oblige member states to draw up plans and lists of safe havens, and related decision-making.
The information should be sent to neighbouring countries, and should, to a significant degree, be available to maritime rescue and tugboat companies.
Protected areas are needed in situations, in which a tanker vessel develops a leak, and the ship needs to be taken away from open sea to prevent more extensive environmental damage.
Owners of seafront property are understandably not enthusiastic about the idea of being near a designated refuge for damaged ships. Reports from around the world suggest that the publication of designated protected areas can cause the value of shoreline real estate to tumble.
However, the Finnish Maritime Administration, among others, has said that the list should be made public.
Until now, it has been easy for Finland to refuse publication, as top environment officials insist that Finland has not drawn up any detailed lists of its safe havens.
Consequently, each individual emergency situation needs to be dealt with separately.
The original directive was from 2002, and at that time, Finland stated that the Finnish coastline has so many islands, and its channels are so shallow, that it is difficult to list all possible sheltered places in advance.
Consequently, each emergency has to be decided separately, according to the authority provided by maritime legislation, and laws on waste management for ships.
The response satisfied both the European Commission, and the EU’s maritime safety authorities, and Finland now wants to use the same arguments to fight the new proposal. Finland would probably be joined by other member states in its position.
Helsingin Sanomat
