EUROPEAN SHIPOWNERS URGE PARLIAMENT TO LIBERALIZE PILOTAGE

EUROPEAN SHIPOWNERS URGE PARLIAMENT TO LIBERALIZE PILOTAGE    The European Community Shipowners’ Association has urged the European Parliament to adopt the proposed port liberalization directive of the European Commission, including its article on the opening up of competition for pilotage services in ports.
   European shipping is “disappointed” that some amendments voted by a committee of the European Parliament “are further weakening the directive and the liberalization of port services,” it said. The shipowners’ association criticized the exclusion of pilotage from the scope of the directive and amendments on “self-handling” of cargoes by the ships.
   The association said that more competitive ports are necessary to switch European traffic to the short sea shipping mode.