SSG No 10 - Shipgaz

SHIPPING AND SHIP MANAGEMENT
problem that has long been known. There
are still no signs of improvement.
For years Enn Kreem, the secretary-general
of the Estonian Shipowners Association,
has explained shipping problems and
looked for access to the political decisionmaking
process, but been forced to admit
that no one has any sympathy for shipowners’
problems. During the approval round,
the Merchant Shipping Bill was put on
hold because it contained support for shipping.
The bill may find little understanding
even if it reaches the Riigikogu, because
unlike in the Lithuanian parliament, there
are no more than two maritime industry
experts in the Estonian parliament.
Not interested
One of them is new to politics, while the
other is a member of the opposition. There
simply cannot be any dialogue with other
MPs, because they are not interested in the
maritime industry.
The Economic Affairs Committee of the
parliament attends primarily to land transport,
and it is too much to expect Estonian
decision-makers to recall sea transport
when they hear the word “transport”.
In their attempts to explain maritime
industry problems to politicians, the maritime
organisations have tried a number of
options. Since maritime industry problems
touch on the jurisdictions of nine ministries,
Estonia’s maritime experts have tried
to push through the establishment of a
governmental Maritime Council, but have
not succeeded.
The mightiest lobby group, the Maritime
Advisory Committee, consisting
of Estonian maritime professionals who
know public governance as well as the
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Their mission is to make themselves
heard. The Chairman of the Council is
Tiit Vähi, the Chairman of the Supervisory
Board of the Port of Sillamäe and twice
former prime minister. Perhaps the head
of the most eastern port in Estonia will be
able to explain to the government that, for
example, there are better ways for the state
to save money than through the non-commissioning
of an ice-breaker.
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38 SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • MAY 16, 2008