Page 56 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - MARTIOS 2023

ON THE SEAFRONT

SHIP RECYCLING: PORTUGAL’S has written a joint open letter urgently
GREEN LIGHT TO THE HONG calling on the UN Secretary-General,
KONG CONVENTION His Excellency António Guterres, to
The Government of Portugal has ratified prioritise the immediate release of the
the Hong Kong Convention, bringing the 331 seafarers and 62 ships that remain
number of countries that have given the trapped in Ukrainian ports.
green light to environmentally friendlier The open letter states:
ship scrapping up to twenty. “Our seafarers are the heart of our
It is worth noting that this interna- industry and cannot be forgotten. For
tional convention will enter into force 12 months now, they have been caught
two years after 15 IMO member states, up in a crisis far beyond their control.
representing 40% of the world fleet in Simply doing their jobs cannot come at
terms of tonnage and an average of 3% the expense of their lives.
of recycling tonnage for the previous We are committed to supporting the con-
ten years, have ratified the convention. tinued success of the Black Sea Grain
BIMCO recently noted in a report that Initiative; however, this cannot come at
while the European list of approved ship the expense of innocent seafarers’ lives.
recycling facilities continues to grow, Action must be taken now.
new additions do not add significant Without our seafarers, the movement of
capacity to meet the global shipping vital grain shipments out of Ukrainian
industry’s demand. Therefore, the Hong ports would not have been possible. While
Kong Convention should be ratified as there are challenges to evacuating sea-
soon as possible. farers and their ships, it must nonetheless
be a top priority. Otherwise, we risk our
THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY seafarers’ lives, which is unacceptable”.
CALLS FOR HELP TO EVACUATE
THE 300+ SEAFARERS STILL ECSA CALLS FOR THE
TRAPPED IN UKRAINE PORTS INCLUSION OF FUEL SUPPLIERS
24th of February 2023 marked one year UNDER THE SCOPE OF FUELEU
since the onset of the war in Ukraine. MARITIME
The International Chamber of Ship- As an important part of the European
ping, in collaboration with over 30 economy, shipping is key in achieving
other organisations and companies, the EU’s climate objectives. The FuelEU

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