EU Council Approves New Maritime Safety Regulations

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The European Council introduced new regulations to support safe, clean, and modern shipping in the EU.

To boost clean, safer, and environmentally-friendly shipping in the European Union, the European Council adopted four new pieces of legislation as part of the so-called ‘maritime safety’ legislative package. The package amends relevant directives on the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector, ship-source pollution, compliance with flag state requirements, and port state control.

What are the key objectives of the new shipping laws?

According to the European Council, this ‘package’ strikes a careful balance between ensuring a high standard of shipping safety and protecting the competitiveness of the European shipping sector, while also aiming for reasonable costs for operators and member states’ authorities. Overall, it equips the EU with modern tools to ensure clean shipping, by aligning EU regulations with international standards and enhancing implementation and enforcement through a strengthened partnership between European and national authorities.

How does the directive improve fishing vessel safety?

As reported by the EU Council, the revised directive on the investigation of accidents in the maritime sector enhances the safety of fishing vessels, their crews, and the environment. Fishing vessels under 15 metres in length are now included within the scope of the directive, meaning accidents involving fatalities and loss of vessels will be subject to harmonized investigation procedures. It also clarifies the legal provisions and requirements for member states’ accident investigation bodies to analyze all relevant accidents in a timely and coordinated manner.

What penalties are imposed for ship-source pollution violations?

The updated directive on ship-source pollution incorporates international standards into EU law, ensuring that individuals responsible for illicit discharges of polluting substances face effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties. These measures aim to improve maritime safety while better protecting the marine environment from ship-related pollution.

How do flag state rules ensure ship compliance with IMO standards?

In addition, the directive on compliance with flag state requirements strengthens the enforcement of rules applied to flag states within the EU. The responsibility for ensuring ships comply with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions lies with the state under whose flag the ship is registered. This directive brings current legislation in line with international laws, primarily focusing on the IMO’s Implementation Code (‘III Code’). The directive ensures thorough inspections of flagged ships and improved monitoring of organizations working on behalf of the flag state.

What role does port state control play in maritime safety?

Finally, the revised directive on port state control updates EU legislation to align it with international protocols and procedures, as outlined in the blank” rel=”noopener”>Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and IMO conventions. It offers greater protection for fishing vessels, their crews, and the marine environment, including by establishing a voluntary inspection regime for larger fishing vessels (those exceeding 24 metres in length).