Draft Law Amending the Maritime Safety Act (526 SE) – Third Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-03 12:07
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 6
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 6/6 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third reading of the draft law amending the Maritime Safety Act 526 concerns the future and competitiveness of Estonia’s maritime sector. The draft’s aim is to promote international maritime transport through public ports and direct trade flows to Estonia, including a 14% reduction in port dues for ships entering port anchorages between 01.01.2025–31.12.2025. This continues the incentives that were in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic (at a higher level of 35% and 15% in 2023) to keep Estonia’s maritime sector functioning and improve cargo transport and passenger services through ports.
In addition, the draft introduces deliberate steps to strengthen the competitiveness of shipping, including a plan to direct 25 million euros of revenue from CO2 quota sales towards retrofitting ships in Estonia and to develop a retrofit support scheme to help shipping companies make their vessels more environmentally friendly. The approach is similar to the partially state-funded refund mechanism implemented in the Film Estonia programme. In state budget negotiations, it is foreseen that these measures will increase the number of ships operating under the Estonian flag and will create added value for the maritime sector. At the level of factions and the government, there is emphasis on the need to utilise global competition and the competencies of coastal infrastructure.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 526 has been passed as a law. The vote result: 74 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 0 voted against, and 0 abstained.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was 3iK35z0_4VM, who, representing the Social Democratic Party faction, addressed this bill and this field. He belongs to the left-wing political spectrum, and his speeches and the continuing explanations he gave focused on maintaining the competitiveness of maritime affairs and international cooperation under the Estonian flag.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi informed that Bill No. 526, initiated by the Economic Affairs Committee to amend the Maritime Safety Act, would reach its third reading, and he opened negotiations on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction at the request of Jaak Aab.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab stated that the competitiveness and sustainability of Estonia's maritime sector depend on the smooth operation of international maritime transport via Estonia's ports, and as a result the waterway charge will be reduced by 14% during 2025, and 25 million euros will be allocated from the sale of CO2 quotas for ship retrofitting in Estonia, to attract shipping companies to invest and promote environmentally sustainable shipping.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They ask for two more minutes.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab said that to promote bringing ships under the Estonian flag, a special package with tax incentives will be implemented, and proposals to be developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate's core unit for maritime affairs and the aquatic environment will be put forward. The Social Democratic Party faction supported the bill's adoption as law, because Estonia is a seafaring nation and the competitiveness of the maritime sector is important for economic development.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi declared the negotiations closed and put to a final vote the draft law No. 526 amending the Maritime Safety Act, initiated by the Economic Committee, asking his colleagues to take a stand and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Bill 526 was enacted as a law with 74 votes in favor; there were no opposing votes and no abstentions.