For the first time the Bulgarian Ship Suppliers Association will have the honour to welcome the annual OCEAN Board meeting and OCEAN Customs and Taxations Working Group meetings. The event will be held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, on 26th and 27th April during the period of the first Bulgarian EU Presidency. The Chairman proudly presents BSSA and reflects on the role of ship supply for his country.

The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union began in January 2018, a decade after the accession of the country to the EU, and will be running for 6 months until June 2018. The presidency is under Bulgaria’s national motto - “United We Stand”, which reflects the core values of cooperation of the European Union. The honour of the EU presidency also brought the great responsibility to highlight important issues for the Union. Bulgaria is focusing on several priorities - The Future of Europe and young people, Western Balkans, Security and stability, and The Digital economy. These issues resonate within the context of the maritime industry and the development of strong European ship supply sector.

OCEAN Board and OCEAN Working Group for Customs & Taxation to visit Bulgaia during EU Presidency on 26 & 27 April 2018

The proud Sveriges Skeppshandlareförbund, represented by its Chairman Keijo Hiltunen presents itself and highlights the importance of ship supplying for Northern Europe!

Mr. Meriaux, the Secretary General of OCEAN's Brussels Office looks into the future and discusses what is on the horizon for OCEAN in 2018.

The European ship supply industry has seen some turbulent times, as political and economic changes and election results have had and continue to have an impact on our business. Nevertheless, make no mistake about it: European ship suppliers remain a reliable, strong and stable partner to all vessels, their captains, ship owners and ship managers calling European Ports!

Greece was selected for 2017 to host the 62nd International Convention & Conference of International Ship Suppliers & Services Association (ISSA) on 10-11 November 2017 in Athens at DIVANI HOTEL, expecting to attract members from 2,000 ISSA ship supplies companies in 95 countries.

 As the ISSA Secretary Spencer Eade writes, OCEAN’s support of the EU measures to improve working conditions of seafarers on board of EU-flagged vessels is another tangible measure in how the global ship supply community has supported the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) provisions on crew abandonment that came into force earlier this year. ISSA & OCEAN stand shoulder to shoulder with seafarers in the EU and globally against crew abandonment.

 In August, the EU Commission has published an Inception Impact Assessment (i.e. the roadmap) on a Directive  which is more commonly known as the Reporting Formalities Directive (RFD).To recall, on 20 October 2010, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from ports of the Member States. So, how did it go? Was it a sucess? Read the EU Commission external support study for the RFD evaluations was published also in August. But what is the consequence for EU ship supply? What is the challenge and what is the benefit? OCEAN's Working Group has taken a closer look

The British Association of Ship Suppliers is now over 100 years of age and presents itself here.

ISSA Members from some 50 countries – many of them in Europe – will be meeting and networking at this year’s 62nd ISSA Convention & Trade Show in Athens, Greece.