Cristina Magdaleno Galdona
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (EFE) that they probably do not have up-to-date security standards, according to the general director of the Merchant Navy, Benito Núñez.
In an interview with EFE, Núñez has acknowledged that the margin of action of Spain, the European Union and the rest of the international organizations to avoid this type of operation is “little”, although he insists that they work so that “they do not get away with yours”.
The head of the Merchant Navy adds that in any case these operations are being carried out outside the exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, some 360 kilometers, which surrounds the Canary Islands.
“Of course it worries us because it is a way to avoid compliance with the sanctions, in addition to the fact that it can pose an environmental risk of spills. These operations are being carried out by vessels older than usual that we suspect do not have the safety standards required for ships that operate with oil, which supposes an additional risk”, he acknowledges.
In this sense, Núñez calls for measures to be taken in the international arena because it is a problem that is beyond the control of the Spanish jurisdiction.
In this way, it advocates that the sanctions packages that are approved in the future within the framework of the European Union take this phenomenon into account and also contemplate measures against these vessels.
It also invites the International Maritime Organization, dependent on the United Nations, to adopt some initiatives to limit, “or at least control”, the carrying out of these operations “which are of course worrying”, although, he admits, the margin is “limited”. .
“We believe that there is some possibility, within the European margin, which is limited, to establish restrictions so that these ships, once they carry out these operations, cannot later return without the crude and make use of the facilities of European ports, for example. “, has explained.
Maritime Rescue
Another of Núñez’s responsibilities falls on Maritime Rescue, which covers a good part of the budget and resources of its General Directorate.
Asked about the current relationship with Morocco and the rescue operations for immigrants, the director general recalls that the data has dropped considerably in recent years and asserts that the relationship with the neighboring country has been “traditionally good.”
“The figures in this sense are going down, despite the fact that there is some occasional upturn derived from periods of good weather, above all, and that there is still a continuous flow, but of course it has been reduced substantially,” he comments.
international legality
He also defends that they have never stopped entering Moroccan waters to deal with emergencies and that they have always done so when there was no possibility of responding with the Rabat media, “because it is what is required by international law.”
“We have not changed the operation because it is not appropriate. We continue to do things as they have traditionally been done”, he argues.
Núñez has also concluded the “conflict or litigation” suffered by the entity, where its workers have frequently complained about the lack of technical and, especially, human resources.
Although the technical fleet of boats, planes and helicopters that Salvamento has is the same, he adds, an “effort” has been made to provide more personnel to those boats that have had a greater demand for entry and exit, both by the summer season as well as migratory spikes.
“An effort has been made to consolidate these positions and I dare say that labor conflict or litigation in society is at a minimum,” he concludes.
Decarbonization
On the other hand, Núñez stands out as the main effort of his entity and the entire maritime sector to achieve decarbonization and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that they emit into the atmosphere, “despite the fact that the maritime transport sector is only responsible for the 3% of total global emissions”.
However, it considers that the sector cannot be kept apart from the general effort and values the compliance calendars and the packages approved by the European Union so that they are established through various regulations that affect maritime transport.