Ekonomický deník | You can't enter Europe without insurance. EU tightens shipping rules

Brussels is particularly targeting older vessels with unclear ownership, which often carry sanctioned commodities such as oil from Russia or Iran. According to current data, the situation is alarming, with more than 80 percent of the ships affected by sanctions not having insurance. The new measure aims to identify these ships and restrict their activities in European waters. The new directive is a step in the right direction in terms of prevention, as it will facilitate a rapid response in the event of an accident. If the rules can be enforced consistently, the safety of navigation in European waters will undoubtedly increase, reducing the number of accidents and the risk of environmental damage. However, it is difficult to judge how effective this will be, given that the sanctions themselves are leading to an increase in the number of ships operating out of sight and without adequate insurance. Success will also depend on the ability of EU Member States to enforce the new rules consistently. Indeed, without coordinated control, ships continue to risk circumventing the rules.

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