Transport MEPs back robust maritime safety measures
- Strict deadlines for maritime investigation
- Ships inspections to focus on safety, environmental performance and crew working conditions
- Stronger European Maritime Security Agency
EU maritime safety should be reinforced with a faster maritime accidents investigation, digital solutions, more inspections on polluting ships and training on crew working conditions
On Thursday, Transport and Tourism Committee backed the Maritime safety package presented by the Commission in June 2023. It aims to modernise and reinforce EU maritime rules on safety and pollution prevention.
Faster maritime accidents investigation
In a draft rules on investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector, led by rapporteur Caroline Nagtegaal (Renew, NL) and green-lit by unanimity (40 votes in favour), Transport MEPs suggest to make investigations faster and more efficient in order to allow to quickly learn from maritime accidents and ensure it never happens again. The investigation should start within one month from the accident (Commission suggested two month) and conclude within 12 months, MEPs add.
Broader inspections
MEPs on the Transport and Tourism committee, spearheaded by rapporteur Vera Tax (S&D, NL), also adopted changes to flag State requirements (34 votes in favour and five abstentions) and port State control rules (34 votes to one and four abstentions). They ask the flag States, which take the first responsibility that a vessel flying its flag is safe to operate, to check 30 % of their ships and focus its inspections not only on safety, but also on environmental performance of their ships, as well as on the working conditions of the crews, including the accuracy of data on working and resting hours. Flag States should also start issuing digital safety compliance certificates within three years after the update of EU rules, MEPs add.
As regards the second line of maritime safety defence, port State control, Transport MEPs agreed to update the criteria that allows to target ships for inspection at ports. Environmental performance and deficiencies of ships will have more weight in determining their risk profile. More inspections on polluting ships will promote the use of on-shore power supply or any other energy saving technology which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in ports, MEPs add. They also supported the proposal to give an option for member states to extend port State control to fishing vessels over 24 meters.
Reinforcement of European Maritime Security Agency
The update of maritime safety rules could only reach its full potential if European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA) is fully involved and equipped to help EU governments on their maritime sector’s green and digital transition. Transport MEPs, led by rapporteur Cláudia Monteiro De Aguiar (EPP, PT), unanimously (39 votes) backed a reinforced EMSA mandate.
They want EMSA to guide EU governments on the decarbonisation and digitalisation of the shipping sector and ports, including reporting on the impacts of EU ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime rules on port traffic and its shift to transhipment ports in third countries. The Agency should also provide training to the member states on how to conduct maritime accidents investigations, apply digital solutions to maritime registries and also help inspector to assess if seafarers' rights and working and living conditions on board ships are respected, Transport MEPs stress.
MEPs also suggest to strengthen EMSA’s international and security role by engaging it more in International Maritime Organisation meetings and providing EU countries maritime situational awareness on new geopolitical challenges, such as, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the related security threats to specific member state.
Next steps
After adopting changes to draft EU rules Transport Committee MEPs also unanimously decided to start talks with member states on the final shape of the legislation, once plenary has given its green light in December 2023 (39 votes in favour on investigation of maritime accidents, flag State requirements and port State control, and 40 votes in favour on European Maritime Safety Agency).
Contacts:
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Gediminas VILKAS
Press Officer