Industry Update: UK Targets Smuggling Networks, Storm Éowyn Disrupts Ireland, and EU Maritime Rules Take Effect

 United Kingdom to curb people smuggling

The United Kingdom has announced plans to combat people smugglers and smuggling crime rings by targeting their sources of finance prime minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe.  My government will do everything in our power to save lives and protect our borders for years to come.” 

The plan, which is expected to come into force within 2025, will target organised immigration networks.  

Many smugglers operate in an informal cash-based network, making it hard for the authorities to target their assets. Instead the UK government intends to disrupt the supply chains that support the smugglers making it uneconomic to continue doing so.  


Storm Éowyn Batters Ireland

Storm Éowyn has made landfall in Ireland with reports of over 700,000 without power nationwide as several flights have been cancelled in and out of Dublin airport.

Winds of 185kmh have been reported. While the Status Red wind warnings have been lifted several Irish counties have been placed under Orange warnings including Cavan, Donegal, the province of Connacht and Longford.

Two airliners have warned of delays and disruption in the coming days. Ryanair has told customers to expect ‘immediate disruptions’ with Aer Lingus telling its customers to ‘expect delays’.

In a statement Dublin Airport said: "Due to Storm Éowyn, there is potential disruption to travel to/from Ireland and the UK on Friday, 24th January."

At time of writing over 200 flights have been cancelled in Dublin airport.


New EU Maritime Rules Put in Place

The FuelEU Maritime Regulation came into force at the start of this year which aims to support the transition towards a more sustainable transport sector, by mandating the gradual uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels and the use of onshore power supply in ports from 2030 onwards.

The FuelEU Maritime Regulation sets a requirement to lower the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of energy used on board all ships above 5,000 gross tonnages at all EU ports. This applies to all ships regardless of whether they are EU ships. The annual average reduction in GHG intensity will gradually increase over time starting from -2% in 2025 to -80% in 2050 compared to the average in 2020.

The Regulation offers flexibility in choosing the right technologies, fuels, and business models for compliance. It includes a pooling mechanism to help fleets develop effective compliance strategies and to reward early adopters for investing in the energy transition.

The EU Regulation also mandates the use of on-shore power supply (OPS) or alternative zero-emission technologies, January 2030 onward in all EU ports covered by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), and, from January 2035 in all EU ports equipped with OPS facilities.