DANISH Shipping, a 90-company industry lobby, is pressing the EU to establish a uniform set of data requirements rather than subjecting ships to differing sets of national requirements at each port of call, reports New York's Marine Link.
'There is a lot at stake for our shipping companies, so we need to do it right this time. The current directive does not live up to its stated purpose,' said Danish Shipping's EU affairs chief Casper Andersen.
The European Parliament's report on Reporting Formalities reaches out to shipping, but does not address the serious administrative burdens on reporting requirements for ships, said the Danish Shipping statement.
The European Parliament's report was its response to the European Commission's proposal, itself inspired by Danish Shipping appeal to improve reporting procedures.
Danish Shipping said it believes that further harmonisation of data format and systems is needed.
The burdens have grown because the current directive did not lead to uniform reporting requirements through National Single Windows, but to a myriad of different systems with differing data requirements, said the report.
'There is a need for a proper internal market for shipping, which will also move more freight from land to sea, which is a declared goal for the EU itself,' said the report.
'However, the reporter proposes to maintain the current national windows and only harmonise these at national level instead of one single European window, as otherwise requested by shipping companies,' it said.
The Council and the Parliament must reach an agreement on the proposal by March before the European Parliament election in May.
'There is a lot at stake for our shipping companies, so we need to do it right this time. The current directive does not live up to its stated purpose,' said Danish Shipping's EU affairs chief Casper Andersen.
The European Parliament's report on Reporting Formalities reaches out to shipping, but does not address the serious administrative burdens on reporting requirements for ships, said the Danish Shipping statement.
The European Parliament's report was its response to the European Commission's proposal, itself inspired by Danish Shipping appeal to improve reporting procedures.
Danish Shipping said it believes that further harmonisation of data format and systems is needed.
The burdens have grown because the current directive did not lead to uniform reporting requirements through National Single Windows, but to a myriad of different systems with differing data requirements, said the report.
'There is a need for a proper internal market for shipping, which will also move more freight from land to sea, which is a declared goal for the EU itself,' said the report.
'However, the reporter proposes to maintain the current national windows and only harmonise these at national level instead of one single European window, as otherwise requested by shipping companies,' it said.
The Council and the Parliament must reach an agreement on the proposal by March before the European Parliament election in May.