In the last decade the consistency of the flag fleet Spanish fell by 13 percentage points. In addition Since the beginning of this year seven ships, for a total of almost 100 thousand tons of gross tonnage, lowered the Spanish flag for hoist that of other nations of the European Union and none of the newly built ships that joined in 2022 of the fleets controlled by Spanish shipowners has registered to the Spanish International Naval Register REC. He highlighted it yesterday, denouncing the loss of competitiveness of the flag National, the president of the Spanish shipowning association ANAVE, Vicente Boluda, in his closing report of the shareholders' meeting held in Madrid.

Noting that the consequence of this loss of competitiveness is that the average age of the fleet registered in the REC is Rising to 17, Boluda noted that "these figures demonstrate that the important work that the Directorate-General of the Marina Mercantile has carried out to update the regulations and the procedures of the ECN were not sufficient to relaunch its competitiveness. But - the president of ANAVE has specified - I do not want to be misunderstood. In recent years, they have been introduced Significant improvements that have helped unlock problems that had stagnated for more than five years. Without wanting to be exhaustive - recalled Boluda - only in the last Year: the possibility of embarking private security teams armed on ships flying the flag of Spain; the assimilation of Ukrainian seafarers as citizens of the European Economic Area or the adoption of regulations facilitating the recognition of Certificates of competence of foreign seafarers are examples concrete disposition of the General Directorate of the Navy Mercantile, headed by Benito Núñez, to discuss the our proposals. The speed and success in responding to the concerns of the sector is worthy of praise and, therefore, Thank you. However - continued Boluda - as ANAVE emphasizes from several years, the ECN needs a comprehensive structural reform, involving all the ministries on which operations depend vessels flying the flag of Spain. Among other issues, it is It is necessary to adapt the legal framework on labour, the law on Prevention of risks at work designed for the land and the bureaucracy and uncertainty associated with inspections of the Maritime Labour Convention'.

The president of ANAMA has urged direct intervention of the Government: "The solution to these obstacles - has affirmed - goes beyond the powers of the General Directorate of the Navy Mercantile and the Ministry of Transport, and goodwill of the Labour Inspectorate and the Social Institute of the Navy at the in order to speed up medical examinations or the issuance of certificates. At the base of the problem, probably - complained Boluda - there is the lack of visibility of the maritime transport sector on the national political agenda, at the highest level. That's why we welcomed with great joy and satisfaction that the Management General of the Merchant Marine decided to draw up a 'Maritime Strategy for Spain', which I hope will serve as Pillar for the development of a maritime transport system Spanish efficient, safe and environmentally friendly."