For decades, five families have been used The cruise ship sails peacefully along the picturesque canals of the beautiful Flanders city. The guide describes the medieval bell tower, low bridges and rich history of this “Venice of the North” day by day.
But for the rowers in Bruges, there may be a storm ahead.Rumor has it that Chinese investors, and even worse, people from Ghent, are known locally as Shoulder strap carrier Or those who lasso, can make waves.
In order to comply with EU law, municipalities will end the existing licensing system in 2027, after which they will open tenders and encourage competition.Because rowing companies are also obligated to invest in electric boats-200,000 euros per boat, which is twice the cost of diesel Engine-the future is uncertain. Since the Battle of Beverhausveld in 1382, the city’s rival city Ghent has been wary of shipping companies. Shoulder strap carrier Because the residents of Ghent were acquired after being forced by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to parade around their necks with ropes after the failure of the rebellion in 1540.
“These five shipping companies have been providing round-trip travel services for many years, some even since 1905,” Geert Van Tieghem, a member of the Flemish Conservative Party N-VA, told newspaper“This is a nautical heritage that we absolutely must cherish.
“Now that the market is opening up, this concern is understandable. The economic market is huge. You never know when people show interest from China. Or if they start from Ghent, there are ships there too. When the Bruges Shipping Company conducts With such a large investment, it is important to give them more legal certainty.”
Jos Michielsens from Venice’s Van Het Noorden Shipping Company said that this may be the end of an era. The company has been a proud user of the dock near the city’s old fish market Huidenvettersplein since the 1950s.
“We are required to make such a large investment, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to make a profit,” he said. “It’s frustrating, and it makes me fear the future. We can’t help but accept it-it’s a knife in the throat. If the state forces you to make a certain investment in your home, then you do the same, right? ?”
Philip Pierins, director of the Bruges Tourism Bureau, said that the licensing process must be “transparent” and that the concession will now be time-limited, not permanent.
“The city of Bruges hired a law firm to conduct a legal review of the existing municipal ship charter,” Pilings said. “This screening shows that the license period of the current license holder can be extended indefinitely, and since the current license holder is always given priority in the context of the application process, it is almost impossible for other interested market participants to obtain license.”
Obligation to replace diesel engine Vessels equipped with electric boats have received municipal funding to help these companies build charging points at the docks. The deadline for the transition from diesel in 2024 has been extended to 2027. He said that the regulatory price for travel has also increased from 10 euros to 12 euros.
Pilings added: “So they seem to say that they are not’holding a knife against their throat.’ All old diesel boats must be electric boats.
“The other condition they promised is that, in addition to the existing cash payment options, from now on, every shipping company will provide at least one digital payment option,” he said.
