EU Ruling on River Dredging Could Hinder Port Expansion Projects

FRANKFURT/HAMBURG, July 1 (Reuters) – The European Court of Justice (ECJ) dominated on Wednesday that harm to water high quality should be thought of when authorities approve river dredging to broaden ports, in a ruling which might hinder enlargement on the German ports of Bremen and Hamburg.

The European Union’s highest tribunal raised hurdles for approval of port dredging initiatives which might hurt marine life, saying extra consideration should be given to the potential harm to water high quality and marine life.

But it didn’t order a blanket cease on dredging some had feared and port corporations stated they hoped the judgment would allow deliberate dredging to go forward in Hamburg, Germany’s largest port. German courts should now decide on dredging undertaking purposes utilizing the brand new ruling.

The German ports of Hamburg and Bremen had needed to dredge rivers to make it simpler for brand spanking new massive container ships to achieve them no matter tides, within the face of intense competitors from Dutch and Belgian rivals Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Ports have argued that dredging is within the public good because it creates jobs and larger financial exercise of their cities, overriding fears about environmental harm. But German environmental safety affiliation BUND had complained to the European Court {that a} undertaking to dredge the river Weser in Bremen would trigger extreme harm to water high quality and so harm marine life.

“In view of the overriding public interest the port industry is optimistic that despite the stringent conditions in the water regulations, the deepening and widening of the Elbe will achieve planning approval,” the affiliation of Hamburg port working corporations UVHH stated in a press release.

Ship sizes have grown from vessels carrying 2,000 to three,000 commonplace twenty foot containers (TEU) within the Eighties to up 18,000 TEU at this time with vessels of 20,000 TEU being constructed.

“The decision from the European Court today on the appeal by BUND against the deepening of the Weser will strengthen protection of water in Germany and throughout Europe,” stated BUND Chief Executive Manfred Braasch.

The world’s primary container line Maersk of Denmark stated: “The ECJ did not rule out dredging of rivers completely, leaving the possibility of exceptional approval open, requiring strong measures of environmental protection.”

“In our view, the ECJ ruling has no short-term implications for Maersk Line business.” (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, Michael Hogan, Jan Schwartz and Jonathan Saul, enhancing by Louise Heavens and David Evans)