SSG No 10 - Shipgaz

SHIPPING AND SHIP MANAGEMENT
The Polish bulk carrier the Solidarnosc.
Positive signs on the Polish
shipping scene
The Polish merchant fleet has for a
number of years been registered
under numerous flags, but the Polish
flag has been one of the more rare ones.
The number of merchant vessels flying the
Polish flag in recent years can be counted
in one-digit numbers.
POLAND
This is something the Polish government
wants to change, and one important step
towards a more competitive national environment
for Polish shipowners is the introduction
of a tonnage based tax system
from January 1 this year. A shipowner may
now choose the general corporate income
taxation or the tonnage-based scheme,
which is to be binding for not less than five
consecutive taxation years. Ships over 100
GT in international traffic are eligible for
tonnage taxation. The tax is calculated at a
flat day rate of EUR 0.50 per GT upp to
1,000 GT, EUR 0.35 between 1,001–
10,000 GT, EUR 0.20 between 10,001–
25,000 GT and EUR 0,10 per GT from
25,001 GT. The tonnage income is then
taxed at a flat rate of 19 per cent.
The Polish government is also considering
changes in the personal income tax for
seafarers sailing under Polish flag to create
an incentive for shipping companies to
operate on the Polish market.
The Polish shipping industry has for
years complained about the government’s
way of handling shipping policy issues.
“Too much talk, too less action” has been
the general meaning within shipping circles.
Now, there is however other initiatives
suggesting that shipping is heading towards
a positive future in Poland, and that the
industry’s importance for the nation is
beginning to be recognized. One important
decision by the government is to
establish a separate ministry for shipping,
which also will be handling issues also on
ports, river traffic and fisheries.
One important institution within the
Polish shipping cluster has also regained
much of its somewhat dented reputation.
When Polski Rejestr Statków S.A., or the
Polish Register of Shipping, celebrated its
70th birthday on December 15 last year,
the Polish classification society was in
much better shape than it was a few years
ago. At the end of September last year, PRS
was approved by the EC Commission and
thus joined the classification societies
approved in the EU. PRS has succeeded in
pulling through its worst crises and earlier
plans to sell the society to a competitor
have been shelved.
Improving environment
When foreign companies establish themselves
in Poland, this could be an indicator
that the shipping environment is improving.
Phoenix Reederei has opened an office
in Szczecin and will employ around 500
persons, of which some 50 persons repairing
engines, generators and deck equipment.
Phoenix has a fleet of container feeder
72 SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • MAY 21, 2007
KRZYSZTOF BRZOZA