SSG No 10 - Shipgaz

Turning
a new page
in Finnish
shipping
Shipping has been allocated increased
significance in the programme of the
new Finnish government. Managing
Director Mika Nykänen of the Finnish
Shipowners’ Association thinks that
the preconditions for a successful
Finnish shipping policy have not for a
long time been as good as they are
now.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen’s second
Cabinet has specified shipping
as a distinct part of its Government
Programme. It has stated that the competitiveness
of Finnish shipping shall be
improved to the same level as that of the
main competitors by the support forms
approved by the EU. It is specifically mentioned
that the tonnage tax legislation will
be revised to be more competitive and that
also the use of general funding will be
looked into.
The aim of the Finnish shipping policy
will be to ensure a positive development of
the Finnish merchant fleet as well as the
employment of Finnish seafarers and a sufficient
transport capacity even in a crisis.
“The Government Programme corre-
PÄR-HENRIK SJÖSTRÖM
Managing Director Mika Nykänen of Finnish Shipowners’ Association thinks that the new
government of Finland has a positive approach to shipping and understands the urgent need
to renovate the shipping policy.
sponds to the goals of the interest groups
within shipping and forms an excellent
base for further preparations within the
government,” says Mr Nykänen. “The terminology
in the programme shows that it
is clearly target-oriented and presents a
number of possibilities.”
Mr Nykänen was called as an expert
when the content of the Government Programme
was negotiated between the participating
political parties. If the issues are
prepared briskly, but still in a realistic way,
Mr Nykänen thinks that a new page will be
turned in Finnish shipping.
“We could improve our own competitiveness,
both regarding logistics and
Finnish shipping. Personally I am satisfied
with the way the new government has started
dealing with issues about shipping.”
Renewal of legislation
The renewal of the tonnage tax legislation
was started by the previous government,
and the new programme confirms that the
present government intends to continue
and finish the reform too.
Mr Nykänen thinks that there are two
main issues that must be dealt with as soon
SHIPPING AND SHIP MANAGEMENT
as possible. In addition to the tonnage tax,
a renovation and modernisation of the legislation
related to the so called “parallel
register”.
“A work group is preparing this matter
and has until the end of June to present its
report,” Mr Nykänen informs.
He thinks that the government will present
its proposal for a renovation of the
parallel register legislation during the
autumn of 2007.
“It is of the utmost importance to maintain
the competitiveness of the Finnish
flagged merchant fleet.”
An important issue in the upgraded law
will be to make the net salary system for
passenger vessels permanent, but there are
also a lot of details related to cargo vessels.
There are a number of other issues too, for
example support to training and change of
crews and extended use of mixed crews.
“In general we hope that the legislation
will be clarified as it has now become indistinct
and out of date in certain details. We
also hope that the present support and its
applications will be improved. Above all, it
is about making this legislation better for
shipping, not weaker. Still, it goes without
SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • MAY 21, 2007 39