The Cruise Lines International Association Europe (CLIA Europe) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) welcome the revision of the European directive on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. Whereas the directive has produced positive effects since its entry into force, there are however a number of shortcomings that need to be addressed. The evaluation of the Port Reception Facilities Directive is therefore essential. In the recently concluded public consultation launched by the European Commission, ECSA and CLIA raised a number of issues in their joint statement.

“A timely review and full implementation of the Port Reception Facilities Directive is urgently needed to make sure adequate facilities are made available to ships whenever they are required. This will allow our industry to keep operating in Europe contributing to jobs and growth”, said Raphael von Heereman, CLIA Secretary General. “In line with the circular economy, waste is more and more considered to be a valuable resource. The directive should also facilitate and encourage the segregation of waste and recycling via the port reception facilities”, he added.

ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven added: “What is needed is adequate port reception facilities including the development of facilities to cover new types of waste, a reasonable and harmonised fee system and proper enforcement of the directive”.

What is also needed is a pragmatic approach on exceptions and exemptions regime. In order to support efficient waste management processes and avoid undue delay at berth, the discharging requirement at port reception facilities should be correlated to the vessel’s self-sufficiency to carry waste on board and continue to the next port of call without delivering waste.

There are a number of shortcomings related to the interpretation and implementation of key elements of the directive. We need now to ensure harmonisation and transparency as the directive is revised. Whether it relates to the fee system, the proper handling of waste, the exemption regime, waste reception and handling plans or to the administrative procedures. “We remain engaged in contributing to the revision process of the directive in order to identify its shortcomings and we look forward to the revised proposal expected in 2017”, Patrick Verhoeven concluded.