GERMAN environmentalists have won a delay in the dredging of the Elbe to accommodate more and bigger ships, but they did not stop the project.
The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig issued a press release saying the Port of Hamburg which seeks to dredge the Elbe and the River Weser must still jump a few eco-hurdles.
"The plan approval is burdened by shortcomings as regards its environmental impact and habitats directive assessment. These shortcomings can be addressed, and will not lead to the revocation of the plan's approval," said the court statement.
A final decision must now be taken when the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has clarified questions on the prohibition of deterioration and desirability of improvement in the European Water Framework Directive.
These questions will be resolved by spring 2015 in connection with complaints against a deepening of the River Weser and are expected to bring a 10-year approval process to an end.
Said a Port of Hamburg statement: "We regret that once again time will be lost and that no decisive relaxation of the restrictions of ship draft and breadth currently in force can yet be implemented."
The action was brought by eco-lobbies BUND and NABU, worried about the fate of the flora and fauna, namely the Elbe water dropwort, twait shad, maraena whitfish and red knot.
The court also questioned the soundness of environmentalist claims. "'Review of assistance' employed is not sound. For this to be the case, the criteria applied to evaluate the supposed deterioration in the state of the water would have had to be defined in the supplementary resolution and its factually reinforced meaning presented in a comprehensible manner. This has not happened to a sufficient extent."
WORLD SHIPPING
06 October 2014 - 21:15
Elbe dredging decision delayed, must await ruling from higher court
GERMAN environmentalists have won a delay in the dredging of the Elbe to accommodate more and bigger ships, but they did not stop the project.
WORLD SHIPPING
06 October 2014 - 21:15
Elbe dredging decision delayed, must await ruling from higher court
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