04/14/2011
During the sailing season of 2010 we offered a mailing list for those interested in Blackflag activities, we set up an internet forum to facilitate the exchange of information and offered country-specific extra pages when there was a demand.
On the occasion of Kiel Week 2010 we took stock of what had been achieved by the initiative and offered further organisational support. Feedback has since been quite poor. Because updating and maintaining this IT-support involves a lot of work and occasions costs – which up to now have been covered by donation from the webpage consultant – we will put the web component of the initiative on hold for the time being.
This does not mean that all the problems which Blackflag wishes to attract attention to have been solved. On the contrary, a lot of different stakeholders still continue to work hard trying to find solutions.
This has led, among other things, to the European Commission looking at the issue. The Commission has suggested the possibility of creating a specific directive for sailing vessels plus a special treatment of traditional vessels in an amended version of the existing EU-Directive on Passenger Vessels. Much will depend on contributions from member countries and the way they position themselves when it comes to the shaping of these directives. They should be designed in a such a way as to actually help and support vessels as well as help operators in their efforts to preserve and maintain them.
08/26/2010 - summary and future
It is one year since we launched our international ship operators’ campaign, so it seems appropriate to take stock now: BLACKFLAG was primarily aimed at demonstrating to politicians and to the general public that there are serious flaws in the legal regime governing traditional vessels. Also, the campaign was about motivating people to actively contribute to finding solutions to our problems. We have made an impact in the public sphere!
read more
01/22/2010 - On our own account
We converted our website completely to Content Management System. So we hope to be able to inform you more quickly.
Beside this we are plannig to create a websiteforum to share information - e.g. before spontaneous events - and a mailinglist with all BLACKFLAG participants on it.
Questions and suggestions send to: info@blackflag.eu
11/28/2009 - The general meeting of GSHW transmits declaration
The general meeting of GSHW transmits a declaration, because formalistic legal wrangling poses a severe threat to the fleet of traditional vessels in Germany:
read declaration (German)
10/08/2009 - Tall Ships Friends supports BLACKFLAG
Tall Ships Friends express their sympathy with the BLACKFLAG initiative and ensure their support.
Letter of the president of Tall Ships Friends to GSHW
09/21/2009 - Traditional ships in Marstal
More news about the great meeting in Marstal soon, here for the first time, only two videos:
Webchannel.dk
TV2 (Dänemark)
09/17/2009 - EMH addresses shipping authorities
EMH (www.european-maritime-heritage.org ) supports the BLACKFLAG initiative and underlines the international petition of traditional vessels, which was passed over to the proper maritime authorities in Marstal/DK on 09/17/09 , by a letter addressed.
read EMH-Letter
09/16/2009 - Traditional ships sail to a spontaneous Event in Marstal / Denmark.
Tens of Dutch, German and Danish sailing ships altered their course to Marstal in Denmark. It is a spontaneous action to ask attention for the ongoing problems for traditional vessels travelling in Denmark and Germany. The ships will arrive Wednesday afternoon the 16th of September. Thursday morning the mayor of Marstal will be give a petition with the request to try is utmost to realise that sailing vessels also in future without problems can call at port in Denmark. Another message will be the continuation of the BLACKFLAG action and a token of appreciation to all the harbourmasters and other persons in Denmark that have supported the fleet in the last years. EMH (www.european-maritime-heritage.org ) at the same time plans to hand in an appeal to shipping authorities to change their recently very restrictive course in respect to traditional vessels. There will be a shanty choir performing, representatives from press and television have shown their interest for this event. At Wednesday 16th of September afternoon around 15:00 there leaves the dutch vessel "Catherina" from Kiel Holtenau to Marstal. There is some place for people interested in this event. "Catherina" will sail back to Kiel at Thursday around noon. Further Information: Pieter Boot, tel.0031622701043."
09/08/2009 - BLACKFLAG-Petition handed over
„Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, Member of Parliament, hands over the collected signatures of the BLACKFLAG petition to the German Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee. Herewith he asks the Minister to take action in solving the problems of traditional shipping shown by the BLACKFLAG initiative.”
08/09/2009 - BLACKFLAG at Hanse Sail Rostock
„On Hanse Sail, just like on Kieler Woche, many vessels flew the BLACKFLAG to point out the threat posed by legislative disagreements. The BLACKFLAG-Crew was strongly supported by the assistants of the “Hanse Sail Bureau”: At the “Captain’s Reception” on Thursday night information about the goal and the background of the initiative was given. During the 4 days of “Hanse Sail” the chain of loudspeakers alongside the harbour promenade explained the meaning and the reason of the black flags to the visitors along the port promenade from time to time.
Every day more and more ships joined the BLACKFLAG action. Also vessels from Sweden and Russia now became interested in the initiative. In several dialogues Christopher Papperitz, president of the GSHW, found great appreciation of the peaceful protest – so with Roland Methling, Lord Mayor of Rostock, Mr Lakomi, head of the Rostock Maritime Police, and Michaela Selling, director of the municipal museums. Papperitz also had the opportunity to talk to Carsten Soendergaard, the Ambassador of Denmark, who already in July had been presented an appeal of the GSHW addressed to the Danish and German government.
During and after the “Hanse Sail” several newspapers, like the Ostseezeitung, and even the regional television reported about the black flags and their background.
We hope that the increased public attention for the severe threat for traditional vessels, which usually remains unseen on such glamorous events, will motivate the legislators to finally take action and look for acceptable solutions in this matter!”
07/07/2009 - EC treats traditional shipping
„Karin Roth, Parliamentary Secretary of the German Ministry of Transport, remarks in her answer to parliamentary questions of parliament members that not only Germany makes efforts to solve the problems concerning international shipping of traditional vessels, but also the European Union came to discuss that subject lately. The Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) will treat this matter at the next conference. The outcome of this meeting is to await, Karin Roth concludes.”
07/06/2009 - GSHW appeals to the Danish and German Government
Wolfgang Boernsen, Member of Parliament, hands over an appeal of the GSHW to Carsten Soendergaard, the Danish ambassador in Germany, concerning the problems of traditional vessels with international shipping. The appeal is addressed to the Folketinget of Denmark and to the German government. Boernsen, who repeatedly pleaded for the matters of traditional vessels in the border area of Denmark and Germany handed over the appeal to the addressees. He as well informed the German Minister of Transport about the problems caused by the restrictions on international shipping.
07/03/2009 - 1000 signatures for new negotiations
During the Kiel Week the BLACKFLAG action found great international support: More than 90 sailing vessels and steamers from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands flow the black flag with the white question mark on it to point at the increasing disagreement of European nations with a mutual acknowledgement of each others national regulations.
Spontaneously more than 2000 crews and visitors of the Kiel Week signed up for the demands of the skippers and owners: "To go on with international voyages, traditional vessels need a safe legal situation." The petition will now be passed to the responsible politicians.
Two prominent advocators of the BLACKFLAG action are Martin Kayenburg, president of the parliament of Schleswig-Holstein, and Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, Member of Parliament, from Flensburg. Both visited traditional vessels several times to get information about the actual problems. Kayenburg - patron of the extensive restoration of the 80-year-old three-mast schooner "Thor Heyerdahl" - promised to support the BLACKFLAG action. In his press release Wodarg pointed out: "It is unacceptable that neighbouring states on both shores of narrow fjords and belts are not interacting positively with regard to their common maritime heritage."
show me Pictures!
07/03/2009 - Broad participation in Blackflag Initiative
More than 90 traditional sailing vessels took part in the BLACKFLAG action of the Kiel Week. Skippers and owners suggested flying the BLACKFLAG again during the "Hanse Sail" in Rostock. Therefore we are planning to expand and improve our action for the Hanse Sail. Nevertheless we are dependent on the support of all masters and owners!
donate now!
06/23/2009 - The Blackflag Team is busy
They are getting more and more!
Our team is very busy to hand out blackflags to the ships. First headlines about us have been reported by the newspapers. We still call on everybody to collect signatures! You can find blank forms in the download area.
to shiplist
06/20/2009 - Nail your colours to the mast: Fly the black flag at the Kiel Week 2009!
Many operators, clubs and associations are operating in a legal vacuum since there is no Europe-wide set of rules and/or because some countries do not acknowledge existing provisions. A cruise to Denmark can thus end up being a legal adventure or even hazard. This makes it ever more difficult to organise sail training for youngsters and cultural exchanges. In the long term this will lead to more and more sailing vessels staying away from events such as Kiel Week. There is very little time left to stop this trend. That is why we are appealing to all associations, clubs, operators, owners and stakeholders: Nail your colours to the mast: Fly the black flag at the Kiel Week 2009!
The Flag
