On 25th March, the EUROSHORE secretariat took contact with the European Institutions and the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, to alarm them on the situation of Port Reception Facilities in Europe, but also in Africa and the United Arab Emirates where Euroshore has members.
If Port Reception Facilities are crucial to collect, treat and valorise waste from ships and contribute to a better environment, it is important to understand that they collect mainly oil and oily waste. The COVID 19 pandemic and the oil price crisis together created an unprecedent difficult situation putting at risk the capacity to continue this activity and the sustainability of some companies. Collection of oil and oily waste is compulsory according to the IMO MARPOL legislation in order to protect the environment. The failure of collection due to a shortage in storage capacity would create a backward step if it is replaced by discharge at sea.
Full EUROSHORE press release here