Competition regulations

European guideline 4065/86 regarding competition (including a generic exemption for liner conferences) was revoked per 18 October 2008. As a consequence, liner conferences for routes to and from the European Union are no longer permitted. Full authority for the European Commission to apply (regular) competition regulations equally to maritime transport had been obtained at an earlier stage.
Following consultations with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and national governments, in 2008 the European Commission adopted guidelines regarding the application of European competition regulations to maritime transport. Said guidelines apply to liner shipping, tramp shipping and pool shipping alike. The guidelines were formally published in the Official Journal of the European Union of 26 September 2008. In addition in 2008 the European Commission initiated the process of amendments to European (exemption) directives regarding liner shipping consortia.
The new exemption directive will come into force on 26 April 2010 and will be effective until 25 April 2015.