Brussels, 10/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 10 June, the European Commission provided new and detailed guidance on state aid granted to ship management companies. These rules complement the 2004 guidelines on state aid to maritime transport. Under the guidelines adopted on Wednesday, the tonnage tax may be applied to all ship managers, as long as they contribute to the development of the European maritime cluster (tonnage tax is calculated not on the profit or loss of a company in a given year, but by applying a notional annual income on its net registered tonnage). Until now, only ship management companies providing jointly technical and crew management for the same ship were eligible to a tonnage tax scheme. In order to benefit from tonnage tax, however, ship managers concerned should commit to implement the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 ahead of its entry into force. (O.L./transl.jl)