BPO represented at ESSF

BPO has been accepted by European Commission as member of European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF). First start-up plenary meeting of the ESSF took place on 27th of November 2013 in Brussels.

On November 27th 2013 the first plenary meeting of the EESF was held and Mrs Gun Rudeberg, Legal Counsel and Head of Environmental Affairs from Ports of Stockholm, was BPO's representative. At the meeting Rules of Procedure of the ESSF was adopted and the plenary also decided on Terms of References for the following sub-groups
-sub-group on exhaust gas cleaning systems
-sub-group on LNG as marine fuel
-sub-group on implementation of the Sulphur Directive
-sub-group on Research & Innovation
-sub-group on Financing Aspects.
The sub-groups shall  report to the ESSF and the first meetings of the sub-groups will take place in December 2013 and January 2014.

EC has set-up the Forum to provide "a platform for structural dialogue, exchange of technical knowledge and cooperation between Member States and all relevant maritime stakeholders regarding maritime transport sustainability" – as declared by Fotis Karamitsos, Director for Logistics, Maritime and Land Transport, and Passenger Rights in DG MOVE, who is also acting as chairman of the Forum.
According to the EC, the Forum will address the challenges related to the implementation of the Sulphur Directive, but is not limited to that Directive. The ESSF may deliver opinions, or develop and propose innovative solutions on any matter of relevance to the promotion of the sustainability and competitiveness of maritime transport in the European Union. The Forum should discuss practical issues related to the implementation of the Sulphur Directive. However, the discussion – as declared by the EC - should not be limited to the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs), but should include all European regions, while also keeping the global picture in mind.
Bogdan Ołdakowski, BPO Secretary General, said: "We are pleased to join the Forum and we hope that European Commission will be open for industry voice when it comes to implementation of the Sulphur Directive, which is – of course – a big concern for maritime businesses in the Baltic".  

The Forum consists of representatives of the EU member states, representatives of industry organizations, experts from technology sector, classification societies, etc. Within the Forum there are main group and 5 sub-groups dealing with LNG as marine fuel, exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers), implementation of the sulphur directive, research & innovation, financing aspects. BPO is represented by Mr. Bogdan Oldakowski, Secretary General and Mrs. Gun Rudeberg, Legal Counsel and Head of Environmental Affairs in Ports of Stockholm in the main group and a few experts from member ports in sub-groups.