Page 70 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023

‘Ro-ro’ passenger ships provide numerous
maritime links within member states, between
member states and with third countries. They
are therefore of major importance to pas-
senger and freight transport in Europe. The
proposal to revise the existing directive orig-
inates from maritime accidents, such as the
sinking of the ‘Estonia’ in 1994.
The revised directive ensures, as far as possi-
ble, consistency with the applicable interna-
tional standards for the stability of damaged
passenger ships recently updated by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
under its 2020 International Convention for
the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention).
The IMO has recently introduced a new model
for assessing the survivability of damaged ‘ro-
ro’ passenger ships, as well as new related
requirements. However, these new interna-
tional standards are not completely in line
with the requirements already in force in the
Union for smaller new vessels. Therefore, the
new law maintains a level of safety require-
ments equivalent to existing Union law for
those ships.
to: promote new destinations, create the The revised directive also aims to strengthen
proper port infrastructure and operating envi- fleet entry requirements within the Union
ronment, develop sustainable tourism prac- for existing large vessels that have not yet
tices, introduce onshore solutions to match been certified in the Union. The text of the
environmental technologies deployed onboard new directive maintains the general purpose
and support the development of new fuels, of the initial Commission proposal, except for
and build the skills of the next generation of the extension of the transposition deadline
seafarers. from 12 to 18 months.
The importance of the Mediterranean region
in post-pandemic cruising was among the top OPTIMISTIC FORECAST FOR THE UK
issues discussed at the opening of the Forum. CRUISE SECTOR
“With such vibrancy and diversity of cultures, Figures released by Cruise Britain show that
the Mediterranean region is one of the world’s the cruise sector’s post-Covid ‘year of transi-
favourite places to visit. And this magnificent tion’ was a success for ports and service pro-
region still offers many more places to dis- viders around the UK and has provided the
cover, best to be discovered by sea. Cruise strongest possible springboard for a projected
tourism is a real opportunity for new destina- record season in 2023.
tions like remote islands and coastline areas, 2019 was the UK’s previous record season, and
bringing important social and economic bene- 2022’s 2176 cruise calls only showed a drop
fits to more communities”, said Marie-Caroline of 22% on that record year. In terms of tran-
Laurent, Director General of CLIA sit passengers enjoying a day ashore in the
UK, ports welcomed nearly 1.4 million guests,
EUROPEAN COUNCIL ADOPTS around 80% of the 2019 figure. With each tran-
LEGISLATION FOR SAFER JOURNEYS sit passenger worth an average of £70 to the
WITH FERRIES IN EUROPE local economy every time they step ashore,
The European Council adopted a new law to the visitor figure for 2022 means a tourism
improve stability requirements for the so-called injection of around £100m to Britain’s coastal
‘ro-ro’ (roll-on/roll-off) passenger ships, known economies. The 2022 embarkation figure of
as ferries. The new directive will play an import- 1.04 m passengers setting sail from a UK port
ant role in ensuring the safety of both vessels constitutes a rebound to 94% of 2019 figures.
and their passengers in the EU, in accordance ‘Looking ahead to this year, we see a robust
with the new international standards in the field. projected growth of 8% in port calls across

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