PORTUGAL REPORT From the package of measures announced by the Maritime Administration in the beginning of 2001 and aimed at revitalising the sector of maritime transport, few have materialised. To this fact contributed the change of Government that took place at the beginning of 2002. Measures taken within the scope of the State Aid Guidelines have included the following: • The subsidy created in 1995 to reduce the expenses incurred with on board training of cadets was, in 2001, extended to cover both deck and engine officers and/or to check their professional competence. • Also in 2001 Fellowships were offered to meet the costs of STCW 95 special safety courses or to cover maritime education courses provided by the Nautical Academy to Officers on maritime and port matters. Finally, at the end of 2001, the much anticipated Regulamento da Inscriçao Maritima was published. This Regulation, a result of the transposition of the 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention and of the Council Directive 98/35/EC into the national legislation, aims at regulating seafarers' professional work. Still pending is the new legislation relating to island cabotage and to the shortage of national seafarers. In the first case, a new Decree-Law was prepared by the Maritime Administration in order to satisfy the Commission requirements, and it is understood that the process is about to be concluded. On the issue of the shortage of seafarers, the document proposing the actions to be taken to address the serious current situation has yet to be published. At the end of 2001, the Portuguese Agency for the Promotion of Short Sea Shipping was established. It should also to be highlighted that there will be a review of the Legal Regime of the Individual Labour Contract on Board Merchant Marine Ships. The aim is to replace the 1973 version, which is still in force but completely outdated.