# CE2008184EN.01001101.xml

| 22.7.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 184/11 |
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22.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 184/11

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COMMON POSITION (EC) No 16/2008

COMMON POSITION

adopted by the Council on 6 June 2008

with a view to adopting Directive 2008/.../EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of ... on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (Recast)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 184 E/02)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

1

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

2

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3),

3

Whereas:

| (1) | Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (4) has been significantly amended on several occasions. Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. |
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(1)

Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (4) has been significantly amended on several occasions. Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity.

4

| (2) | In view of the nature of the provisions of Directive 94/57/EC it seems appropriate that its provisions be recast in two different Community legal instruments, namely a Directive and a Regulation. |
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(2)

In view of the nature of the provisions of Directive 94/57/EC it seems appropriate that its provisions be recast in two different Community legal instruments, namely a Directive and a Regulation.

| (3) | In its Resolution of 8 June 1993 on a common policy on safe seas, the Council set the objective of removing all substandard vessels from Community waters and gave priority to Community action designed to secure the effective and uniform implementation of international rules by drawing up common standards for classification societies. |
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(3)

In its Resolution of 8 June 1993 on a common policy on safe seas, the Council set the objective of removing all substandard vessels from Community waters and gave priority to Community action designed to secure the effective and uniform implementation of international rules by drawing up common standards for classification societies.

| (4) | Safety and pollution prevention at sea may be effectively enhanced by strictly applying international conventions, codes and resolutions while furthering the objective of freedom to provide services. |
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(4)

Safety and pollution prevention at sea may be effectively enhanced by strictly applying international conventions, codes and resolutions while furthering the objective of freedom to provide services.

| (5) | The control of compliance of ships with the uniform international standards for safety and prevention of pollution of the seas is the responsibility of flag and port States. |
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(5)

The control of compliance of ships with the uniform international standards for safety and prevention of pollution of the seas is the responsibility of flag and port States.

| (6) | Member States are responsible for the issuing of international certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution provided for under conventions such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974 (SOLAS 74), the International Convention on Load Lines of 5 April 1966 and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973 (MARPOL), and for the implementation of those conventions. |
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(6)

Member States are responsible for the issuing of international certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution provided for under conventions such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974 (SOLAS 74), the International Convention on Load Lines of 5 April 1966 and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973 (MARPOL), and for the implementation of those conventions.

| (7) | In compliance with such conventions all Member States may authorise to a varying extent recognised organisations for the certification of such compliance and may delegate the issue of the relevant certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution. |
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(7)

In compliance with such conventions all Member States may authorise to a varying extent recognised organisations for the certification of such compliance and may delegate the issue of the relevant certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution.

| (8) | Worldwide a large number of the existing classification societies do not ensure either adequate implementation of the rules or sufficient reliability when acting on behalf of national administrations as they do not have reliable and adequate structures and experience to enable them to carry out their duties in a highly professional manner. |
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(8)

Worldwide a large number of the existing classification societies do not ensure either adequate implementation of the rules or sufficient reliability when acting on behalf of national administrations as they do not have reliable and adequate structures and experience to enable them to carry out their duties in a highly professional manner.

| (9) | In accordance with SOLAS 74 Chapter II-1, Part A-1, Regulation 3-1, Member States are responsible for ensuring that ships flying their flag are designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of classification societies recognised by administrations. These societies therefore produce and implement rules for the design, construction, maintenance and inspection of ships and they are responsible for inspecting ships on behalf of the flag States and certifying that those ships meet the requirements of the international conventions for the issue of the relevant certificates. To enable them to carry out that duty in a satisfactory manner they need to have strict independence, highly specialised technical competence and rigorous quality management. |
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(9)

In accordance with SOLAS 74 Chapter II-1, Part A-1, Regulation 3-1, Member States are responsible for ensuring that ships flying their flag are designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of classification societies recognised by administrations. These societies therefore produce and implement rules for the design, construction, maintenance and inspection of ships and they are responsible for inspecting ships on behalf of the flag States and certifying that those ships meet the requirements of the international conventions for the issue of the relevant certificates. To enable them to carry out that duty in a satisfactory manner they need to have strict independence, highly specialised technical competence and rigorous quality management.

| (10) | Ship inspection and survey organisations should be able to offer their services throughout the Community and compete with each other while providing equal levels of safety and of environmental protection. The necessary professional standards for their activities should therefore be uniformly established and applied across the Community. |
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(10)

Ship inspection and survey organisations should be able to offer their services throughout the Community and compete with each other while providing equal levels of safety and of environmental protection. The necessary professional standards for their activities should therefore be uniformly established and applied across the Community.

| (11) | The issue of the cargo ship safety radio certificate may be entrusted to private bodies having sufficient expertise and qualified personnel. |
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(11)

The issue of the cargo ship safety radio certificate may be entrusted to private bodies having sufficient expertise and qualified personnel.

| (12) | A Member State may restrict the number of recognised organisations it authorises in accordance with its needs, based on objective and transparent grounds, subject to control exercised by the Commission in accordance with a committee procedure. |
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(12)

A Member State may restrict the number of recognised organisations it authorises in accordance with its needs, based on objective and transparent grounds, subject to control exercised by the Commission in accordance with a committee procedure.

| (13) | This Directive should ensure freedom to provide services in the Community, accordingly the Community should be entitled to negotiate, with those third countries where some of the recognised organisations are located, in order to ensure equal treatment for the recognised organisations located in the Community. |
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(13)

This Directive should ensure freedom to provide services in the Community, accordingly the Community should be entitled to negotiate, with those third countries where some of the recognised organisations are located, in order to ensure equal treatment for the recognised organisations located in the Community.

| (14) | A tight involvement of the national administrations in ship surveys and in the issue of the related certificates is necessary to ensure full compliance with the international safety rules even if the Member States rely upon recognised organisations, which are not part of their administration for carrying out statutory duties. It is appropriate, therefore, to establish a close working relationship between the administrations and the recognised organisations authorised by them, which may require that the recognised organisations have a local representation on the territory of the Member State on behalf of which they perform their duties. |
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(14)

A tight involvement of the national administrations in ship surveys and in the issue of the related certificates is necessary to ensure full compliance with the international safety rules even if the Member States rely upon recognised organisations, which are not part of their administration for carrying out statutory duties. It is appropriate, therefore, to establish a close working relationship between the administrations and the recognised organisations authorised by them, which may require that the recognised organisations have a local representation on the territory of the Member State on behalf of which they perform their duties.

| (15) | Divergence in the financial liability regimes of the recognised organisations working on behalf of the Member States would impede the proper implementation of this Directive. In order to contribute to solving this problem it is appropriate to bring about a degree of harmonisation at Community level of the liability arising out of any marine casualty caused by a recognised organisation, as decided by a court of law, including settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures. |
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(15)

Divergence in the financial liability regimes of the recognised organisations working on behalf of the Member States would impede the proper implementation of this Directive. In order to contribute to solving this problem it is appropriate to bring about a degree of harmonisation at Community level of the liability arising out of any marine casualty caused by a recognised organisation, as decided by a court of law, including settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures.

| (16) | The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (5). |
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(16)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (5).

5

| (17) | In particular the Commission should be empowered to amend this Directive in order to incorporate subsequent amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions related thereto. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia by supplementing it with new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC. |
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(17)

In particular the Commission should be empowered to amend this Directive in order to incorporate subsequent amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions related thereto. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia by supplementing it with new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.

inter alia

| (18) | Member States should nevertheless be left with the possibility of suspending or withdrawing their authorisation of a recognised organisation while informing the Commission and the other Member States of their decisions and giving substantiated reasons therefor. |
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(18)

Member States should nevertheless be left with the possibility of suspending or withdrawing their authorisation of a recognised organisation while informing the Commission and the other Member States of their decisions and giving substantiated reasons therefor.

| (19) | Member States should periodically assess the performance of the recognised organisations working on their behalf and provide the Commission and all the other Member States with precise information related to such performance. |
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(19)

Member States should periodically assess the performance of the recognised organisations working on their behalf and provide the Commission and all the other Member States with precise information related to such performance.

| (20) | As port authorities, Member States are required to enhance safety and prevention of pollution in Community waters through priority inspection of ships carrying certificates of organisations which do not fulfil the common criteria, thereby ensuring that ships flying the flag of a third State do not receive more favourable treatment. |
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(20)

As port authorities, Member States are required to enhance safety and prevention of pollution in Community waters through priority inspection of ships carrying certificates of organisations which do not fulfil the common criteria, thereby ensuring that ships flying the flag of a third State do not receive more favourable treatment.

| (21) | At present there are no uniform international standards to which all ships must conform either at the building stage or during their entire lifetime, as regards hull, machinery and electrical and control installations. Such standards may be fixed according to the rules of recognised organisations or to equivalent standards to be decided by the national administrations in accordance with the procedure laid down in Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services (6). |
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(21)

At present there are no uniform international standards to which all ships must conform either at the building stage or during their entire lifetime, as regards hull, machinery and electrical and control installations. Such standards may be fixed according to the rules of recognised organisations or to equivalent standards to be decided by the national administrations in accordance with the procedure laid down in Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services (6).

6

| (22) | Since the objective of this Directive, namely to establish measures to be followed by the Member States in their relationship with organisations entrusted with the inspection, survey and certification of ships, operating in the Community, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale of the action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. |
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(22)

Since the objective of this Directive, namely to establish measures to be followed by the Member States in their relationship with organisations entrusted with the inspection, survey and certification of ships, operating in the Community, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale of the action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

| (23) | The obligation to transpose this Directive into national law should be confined to those provisions which represent a substantive change as compared with the Directive 94/57/EC. The obligation to transpose the provisions which are unchanged arises under that Directive. |
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(23)

The obligation to transpose this Directive into national law should be confined to those provisions which represent a substantive change as compared with the Directive 94/57/EC. The obligation to transpose the provisions which are unchanged arises under that Directive.

| (24) | This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex I, Part B. |
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(24)

This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex I, Part B.

| (25) | In accordance with point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-making (7), Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interest of the Community, their own tables, illustrating, as far as possible, the correlation between this Directive and the transposition measures, and to make them public. |
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(25)

In accordance with point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-making (7), Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interest of the Community, their own tables, illustrating, as far as possible, the correlation between this Directive and the transposition measures, and to make them public.

7

| (26) | Measures to be followed by ship inspection and survey organisations are laid down in Regulation (EC) No .../... of the European Parliament and the Council of ... on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations (8), |
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(26)

Measures to be followed by ship inspection and survey organisations are laid down in Regulation (EC) No .../... of the European Parliament and the Council of ... on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations (8),

8

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

This Directive establishes measures to be followed by the Member States in their relationship with organisations entrusted with the inspection, survey and certification of ships for compliance with the international conventions on safety at sea and prevention of marine pollution, while furthering the objective of freedom to provide services. This includes the development and implementation of safety requirements for hull, machinery and electrical and control installations of ships falling under the scope of the international conventions.

Article 2

For the purpose of this Directive the following definitions shall apply:

| (a) | ‘ship’ | means a ship falling within the scope of the international conventions; |
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| (b) | ‘ship flying the flag of a Member State’ | means a ship registered in and flying the flag of a Member State in accordance with its legislation. Ships not corresponding to this definition are assimilated to ships flying the flag of a third country; |
| (c) | ‘inspections and surveys’ | means inspections and surveys that are mandatory under the international conventions; |
| (d) | ‘international conventions’ | means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974, (SOLAS 74) with the exception of chapter XI-2 of the Annex thereto, the International Convention of Load Lines of 5 April 1966 and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973 (Marpol), together with the protocols and amendments thereto, and the related codes of mandatory status in all Member States, in their up-to-date version; |
| (e) | ‘organisation’ | means a legal entity, its subsidiaries and any other entities under its control, which jointly or separately carry out tasks falling under the scope of this Directive; |
| (f) | ‘control’ | means, for the purpose of point (e), rights, contracts or any other means, in law or in fact, which, either separately or in combination confer the possibility of exercising decisive influence on a legal entity or enable that entity to carry out tasks falling under the scope of this Directive; |
| (g) | ‘recognised organisation’ | means an organisation recognised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No .../...; |
| (h) | ‘authorisation’ | means an act whereby a Member State grants an authorisation or delegates powers to a recognised organisation; |
| (i) | ‘statutory certificate’ | means a certificate issued by or on behalf of a flag State in accordance with the international conventions; |
| (j) | ‘rules and procedures’ | means a recognised organisation's requirements for the design, construction, equipment, maintenance and survey of ships; |
| (k) | ‘class certificate’ | means a document issued by a recognised organisation certifying the fitness of a ship for a particular use or service in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down and made public by that recognised organisation; |
| (l) | ‘cargo ship safety radio certificate’ | means the certificate introduced by the 1988 Protocol amending SOLAS, adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). |

(a)

‘ship’

means a ship falling within the scope of the international conventions;

(b)

‘ship flying the flag of a Member State’

means a ship registered in and flying the flag of a Member State in accordance with its legislation. Ships not corresponding to this definition are assimilated to ships flying the flag of a third country;

(c)

‘inspections and surveys’

means inspections and surveys that are mandatory under the international conventions;

(d)

‘international conventions’

means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974, (SOLAS 74) with the exception of chapter XI-2 of the Annex thereto, the International Convention of Load Lines of 5 April 1966 and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973 (Marpol), together with the protocols and amendments thereto, and the related codes of mandatory status in all Member States, in their up-to-date version;

(e)

‘organisation’

means a legal entity, its subsidiaries and any other entities under its control, which jointly or separately carry out tasks falling under the scope of this Directive;

(f)

‘control’

means, for the purpose of point (e), rights, contracts or any other means, in law or in fact, which, either separately or in combination confer the possibility of exercising decisive influence on a legal entity or enable that entity to carry out tasks falling under the scope of this Directive;

(g)

‘recognised organisation’

means an organisation recognised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No .../...;

(h)

‘authorisation’

means an act whereby a Member State grants an authorisation or delegates powers to a recognised organisation;

(i)

‘statutory certificate’

means a certificate issued by or on behalf of a flag State in accordance with the international conventions;

(j)

‘rules and procedures’

means a recognised organisation's requirements for the design, construction, equipment, maintenance and survey of ships;

(k)

‘class certificate’

means a document issued by a recognised organisation certifying the fitness of a ship for a particular use or service in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down and made public by that recognised organisation;

(l)

‘cargo ship safety radio certificate’

means the certificate introduced by the 1988 Protocol amending SOLAS, adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Article 3

1.   In assuming their responsibilities and obligations under the international conventions, Member States shall ensure that their competent administrations can ensure appropriate enforcement of the provisions thereof, in particular with regard to the inspection and survey of ships and the issue of statutory certificates and exemption certificates as provided for by the international conventions. Member States shall act in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Annex and the Appendix to IMO Resolution A.847(20) on guidelines to assist flag States in the implementation of IMO instruments.

2.   Where for the purpose of paragraph 1 a Member State decides with respect to ships flying its flag:

| (i) | to authorise organisations to undertake fully or in part inspections and surveys related to statutory certificates including those for the assessment of compliance with the rules referred to in Article 11(2) and, where appropriate, to issue or renew the related certificates; or |
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(i)

to authorise organisations to undertake fully or in part inspections and surveys related to statutory certificates including those for the assessment of compliance with the rules referred to in Article 11(2) and, where appropriate, to issue or renew the related certificates; or

| (ii) | to rely upon organisations to undertake fully or in part the inspections and surveys referred to in point (i); |
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(ii)

to rely upon organisations to undertake fully or in part the inspections and surveys referred to in point (i);

it shall entrust these duties only to recognised organisations.

The competent administration shall in all cases approve the first issue of the exemption certificates.

However, for the cargo ship safety radio certificate these duties may be entrusted to a private body recognised by a competent administration and having sufficient expertise and qualified personnel to carry out specified safety assessment work on radio-communication on its behalf.

3.   This Article does not concern the certification of specific items of marine equipment.

Article 4

1.   In applying Article 3(2), Member States shall in principle not refuse to authorise any of the recognised organisations to undertake such functions, subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article and Articles 5 and 9. However, they may restrict the number of organisations they authorise in accordance with their needs provided there are transparent and objective grounds for so doing.

At the request of a Member State, the Commission shall, in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 6(2), adopt appropriate measures.

2.   In order for a Member State to accept that a recognised organisation located in a third State is to carry out fully or in part the duties mentioned in Article 3 it may request the third State in question to grant reciprocal treatment to those recognised organisations which are located in the Community.

In addition, the Community may request the third State where a recognised organisation is located to grant reciprocal treatment to those recognised organisations which are located in the Community.

Article 5

1.   Member States which take a decision as described in Article 3(2) shall set out a ‘working relationship’ between their competent administration and the organisations acting on their behalf.

2.   The working relationship shall be regulated by a formalised written and non-discriminatory agreement or equivalent legal arrangements setting out the specific duties and functions assumed by the organisations and including at least:

| (a) | the provisions set out in Appendix II of IMO Resolution A.739(18) on guidelines for the authorisation of organisations acting on behalf of the administration, while drawing inspiration from the Annex, Appendices and Attachment to IMO MSC/Circular 710 and MEPC/Circular 307 on a model agreement for the authorisation of recognised organisations acting on behalf of the administration; |
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(a)

the provisions set out in Appendix II of IMO Resolution A.739(18) on guidelines for the authorisation of organisations acting on behalf of the administration, while drawing inspiration from the Annex, Appendices and Attachment to IMO MSC/Circular 710 and MEPC/Circular 307 on a model agreement for the authorisation of recognised organisations acting on behalf of the administration;

| (b) | the following provisions concerning financial liability:






  (i) | if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for loss of or damage to property or personal injury or death, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by a wilful act or omission or gross negligence of the recognised organisation, its bodies, employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation to the extent that that loss, damage, injury or death was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation; |
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(b)

the following provisions concerning financial liability:

(i)

if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for loss of or damage to property or personal injury or death, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by a wilful act or omission or gross negligence of the recognised organisation, its bodies, employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation to the extent that that loss, damage, injury or death was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation;

| (ii) | if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for personal injury or death, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by any negligent or reckless act or omission of the recognised organisation, its employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation to the extent that that personal injury or death was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation; the Member States may limit the maximum amount payable by the recognised organisation, which must, however, be at least equal to EUR 4 million; |
| --- | --- |

(ii)

if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for personal injury or death, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by any negligent or reckless act or omission of the recognised organisation, its employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation to the extent that that personal injury or death was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation; the Member States may limit the maximum amount payable by the recognised organisation, which must, however, be at least equal to EUR 4 million;

| (iii) | if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for loss of or damage to property, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by any negligent or reckless act or omission of the recognised organisation, its employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation, to the extent that that loss or damage was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation; the Member States may limit the maximum amount payable by the recognised organisation, which must, however, be at least equal to EUR 2 million; |
| --- | --- |

(iii)

if liability arising out of any marine casualty is finally and definitely imposed on the administration by a court of law or as part of the settlement of a dispute through arbitration procedures, together with a requirement to compensate the injured parties for loss of or damage to property, which is proved in that court of law to have been caused by any negligent or reckless act or omission of the recognised organisation, its employees, agents or others who act on behalf of the recognised organisation, the administration shall be entitled to financial compensation from the recognised organisation, to the extent that that loss or damage was, as decided by that court, caused by the recognised organisation; the Member States may limit the maximum amount payable by the recognised organisation, which must, however, be at least equal to EUR 2 million;

| (c) | provisions for a periodical audit by the administration or by an impartial external body appointed by the administration into the duties the organisations are undertaking on its behalf, as referred to in Article 9(1); |
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(c)

provisions for a periodical audit by the administration or by an impartial external body appointed by the administration into the duties the organisations are undertaking on its behalf, as referred to in Article 9(1);

| (d) | the possibility for random and detailed inspections of ships; |
| --- | --- |

(d)

the possibility for random and detailed inspections of ships;

| (e) | provisions for reporting essential information about their classed fleet, and changes, suspensions and withdrawals of class. |
| --- | --- |

(e)

provisions for reporting essential information about their classed fleet, and changes, suspensions and withdrawals of class.

3.   The agreement or equivalent legal arrangement may require the recognised organisation to have a local representation on the territory of the Member State on behalf of which it performs the duties referred to in Article 3. A local representation with legal personality under the law of the Member State and subject to the jurisdiction of its national courts may satisfy such a requirement.

4.   Each Member State shall provide the Commission with precise information on the working relationship established in accordance with this Article. The Commission shall subsequently inform the other Member States thereof.

Article 6

1.   The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) established by Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 (9).

9

2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.

3.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

Article 7

1.   This Directive may, without broadening its scope, be amended in order to:

| (a) | incorporate, for the purposes of this Directive, subsequent amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions related thereto referred to in Articles 2(d), 3(1) and 5(2), which have entered into force; |
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(a)

incorporate, for the purposes of this Directive, subsequent amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions related thereto referred to in Articles 2(d), 3(1) and 5(2), which have entered into force;

| (b) | alter the amounts specified in points (ii) and (iii) of Article 5(2)(b). |
| --- | --- |

(b)

alter the amounts specified in points (ii) and (iii) of Article 5(2)(b).

These measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 6(3).

2.   Following the adoption of new instruments or protocols to the international conventions referred to in Article 2(d), the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall decide, taking into account the Member States' parliamentary procedures as well as the relevant procedures within the IMO, on the detailed arrangements for ratifying those new instruments or protocols, while ensuring that they are applied uniformly and simultaneously in the Member States.

The amendments to the international instruments referred to in Article 2(d) and Article 5 may be excluded from the scope of this Directive, pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002.

Article 8

Notwithstanding the minimum criteria specified in the Annex I of Regulation (EC) No .../..., where a Member State considers that a recognised organisation can no longer be authorised to carry out on its behalf the tasks specified in Article 3 it may suspend or withdraw such authorisation. In such case the Member State shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of its decision without delay and shall give substantiated reasons therefor.

Article 9

1.   Each Member State shall satisfy itself that the recognised organisations acting on its behalf for the purpose of Article 3(2) effectively carry out the functions referred to in that Article to the satisfaction of its competent administration.

2.   Each Member State shall carry out the task referred to in paragraph 1 at least on a biennial basis and shall provide the other Member States and the Commission with a report on the results of this monitoring at the latest by 31 March of the year following the years for which compliance has been assessed.

Article 10

In exercising their inspection rights and obligations as port States, Member States shall report to the Commission and to other Member States, and inform the flag State concerned, if they find that valid statutory certificates have been issued by recognised organisations acting on behalf of a flag State to a ship which does not fulfil the relevant requirements of the international conventions, or in the event of any failure of a ship carrying a valid class certificate and relating to items covered by that certificate. Only cases of ships representing a serious threat to safety and the environment or showing evidence of particularly negligent behaviour of the recognised organisations shall be reported for the purposes of this Article. The recognised organisation concerned shall be advised of the case at the time of the initial inspection so that it can take appropriate follow-up action immediately.

Article 11

1.   Each Member State shall ensure that ships flying its flag are designed, constructed, equipped and maintained in accordance with the rules and procedures relating to hull, machinery and electrical and control installation requirements of a recognised organisation.

2.   A Member State may decide to use rules it considers equivalent to the rules and procedures of a recognised organisation only on the proviso that it immediately notifies them to the Commission in conformity with the procedure under Directive 98/34/EC and to the other Member States and they are not objected to by another Member State or the Commission and are held, through the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 6(2) of this Directive, not to be equivalent.

3.   Member States shall cooperate with the recognised organisations they authorise in the development of the rules and procedures of those organisations. They shall confer with the recognised organisations with a view to achieving consistent interpretation of the international conventions.

Article 12

The Commission shall, on a biennial basis, inform the European Parliament and the Council of progress in the implementation of this Directive in the Member States.

Article 13

1.   Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by ... (10). They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

10

When they are adopted by Member States, these measures shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. They shall also include a statement that references in existing laws, regulations and administrative provisions to the directives repealed by this Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive. The methods of making such references shall be laid down by Member States.

2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 14

Directive 94/57/EC, as amended by the Directives listed in Annex I, Part A, shall be repealed with effect from ... (11), without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex I, Part B.

11

References to the repealed Directives shall be construed as references to this Directive and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.

Article 15

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Official Journal of the European Union

Article 16

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at ...

For the European Parliament

The President

...

For the Council

The President

...

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(1)  OJ C 318, 23.12.2006, p. 195.

1

(2)  OJ C 229, 22.9.2006, p. 38.

2

(3)  Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 April 2007 (OJ C 74 E, 20.3.2008, p. 632), Council Common Position of 6 June 2008 and Position of the European Parliament of ... (not yet published in the Official Journal).

3

(4)  OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Directive 2002/84/EC (OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53).

4

(5)  OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

5

(6)  OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37. Directive as last amended by Council Directive 2006/96/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 81).

6

(7)  OJ C 321, 31.12.2003, p. 1.

7

(8)  OJ L ...

8

(9)  Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and the prevention of pollution from Ships (COSS) (OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 1). Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 93/2007 (OJ L 22, 31.1.2007, p. 12).

9

(10)  24 months after the date of entry into force of this Directive.

10

(11)  Date of entry into force of this Directive.

11

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ANNEX I

Part A

Repealed Directive with its successive amendments

(referred to in Article 14)

| Council Directive 94/57/EC | OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20 |
| --- | --- |
| Commission Directive 97/58/EC | OJ L 274, 7.10.1997, p. 8 |
| Directive 2001/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council | OJ L 19, 22.1.2002, p. 9 |
| Directive 2002/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council | OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53 |

Council Directive 94/57/EC

OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20

Commission Directive 97/58/EC

OJ L 274, 7.10.1997, p. 8

Directive 2001/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

OJ L 19, 22.1.2002, p. 9

Directive 2002/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 53

Part B

List of time-limits for transposition into national law

(referred to in Article 14)

| Directive | Time-limit for transposition |
| --- | --- |
| 94/57/EC | 31 December 1995 |
| 97/58/EC | 30 September 1998 |
| 2001/105/EC | 22 July 2003 |
| 2002/84/EC | 23 November 2003 |

Directive

Time-limit for transposition

94/57/EC

31 December 1995

97/58/EC

30 September 1998

2001/105/EC

22 July 2003

2002/84/EC

23 November 2003

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ANNEX II

CORRELATION TABLE

| Directive 94/57/EC | This Directive | Regulation (EC) No .../... |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Article 1 | Article 1 | Article 1 |
| Article 2(a) | Article 2(a) | Article 2(a) |
| Article 2(b) | Article 2(b) | — |
| Article 2(c) | Article 2(c) | — |
| Article 2(d) | Article 2(d) | Article 2(b) |
| Article 2(e) | Article 2(e) | Article 2(c) |
| — | Article 2(f) | Article 2(d) |
| Article 2(f) | Article 2(g) | Article 2(e) |
| Article 2(g) | Article 2(h) | Article 2(f) |
| Article 2(h) | Article 2(i) | Article 2(g) |
| Article 2(i) | Article 2(k) | Article 2(i) |
| — | Article 2(j) | Article 2(h) |
| Article 2(j) | Article 2(l) | — |
| Article 2(k) | — | Article 2(j) |
| Article 3 | Article 3 | — |
| Article 4(1) first phrase | — | Article 3(1) |
| Article 4(1) second phrase | — | Article 3(2) |
| Article 4(1) third phrase | — | — |
| Article 4(1) fourth phrase | — | Article 4(1) |
| — | — | Article 3(3) |
| — | — | Article 4(2), (3), (4) |
| — | — | Article 5 |
| — | — | Article 6 |
| — | — | Article 7 |
| Article 5(1) | Article 4(1) | — |
| Article 5(3) | Article 4(2) | — |
| Article 6(1), (2), (3), (4) | Article 5(1), (2), (3), (4) | — |
| Article 6(5) | — | — |
| Article 7 | Article 6 | Article 12 |
| Article 8(1) first indent | Article 7(1), point (a) of first subparagraph | — |
| Article 8(1) second indent | — | Article 13(1) |
| Article 8(1) third indent | Article 7(1), point (b) of first subparagraph | — |
| — | Article 7(1) second subparagraph | Article 13(1) (second subparagraph) |
| Article 8(2) | Article 7(2) | — |
| Article 8(2) second subparagraph | — | Article 13(2) |
| Article 9(1) | — | — |
| Article 9(2) | — | — |
| Article 10(1) introductory wording | Article 8 | — |
| Article 10(1)(a), (b), (c), (2), (3), (4) | — | — |
| Article 11(1), (2) | Article 9(1), (2) | — |
| Article 11(3), (4) | — | Article 8(1)(2) |
| Article 12 | Article 10 | — |
| Article 13 | — | — |
| Article 14 | Article 11(1), (2) | — |
| — | Article 11(3) | — |
| — | Article 12 | — |
| — | — | Article 9 |
| Article 15(1) | — | — |
| — | — | Article 10(1)(2) |
| Article 15(2) | — | Article 10(3) |
| Article 15(3) | — | Article 10(4) |
| Article 15(4) | — | Article 10(5) |
| Article 15(5) | — | Article 10(6) first, second, third, fifth subparagraphs |
| — | — | Article 10(6) fourth subparagraph |
| Article 16 | Article 13 | — |
| Article 17 | Article 16 | — |
| — | Article 14 | — |
| — | Article 15 | — |
| — | — | Article 11 |
| — | — | Article 14 |
| — | — | Article 15 |
| — | — | Article 16 |
| — | — | Article 17 |
| — | — | Article 18 |
| — | — | Article 19 |
| Annex | — | Annex I |
| — | Annex I | — |
| — | Annex II | Annex II |

Directive 94/57/EC

This Directive

Regulation (EC) No .../...

Article 1

Article 1

Article 1

Article 2(a)

Article 2(a)

Article 2(a)

Article 2(b)

Article 2(b)

—

Article 2(c)

Article 2(c)

—

Article 2(d)

Article 2(d)

Article 2(b)

Article 2(e)

Article 2(e)

Article 2(c)

—

Article 2(f)

Article 2(d)

Article 2(f)

Article 2(g)

Article 2(e)

Article 2(g)

Article 2(h)

Article 2(f)

Article 2(h)

Article 2(i)

Article 2(g)

Article 2(i)

Article 2(k)

Article 2(i)

—

Article 2(j)

Article 2(h)

Article 2(j)

Article 2(l)

—

Article 2(k)

—

Article 2(j)

Article 3

Article 3

—

Article 4(1) first phrase

—

Article 3(1)

Article 4(1) second phrase

—

Article 3(2)

Article 4(1) third phrase

—

—

Article 4(1) fourth phrase

—

Article 4(1)

—

—

Article 3(3)

—

—

Article 4(2), (3), (4)

—

—

Article 5

—

—

Article 6

—

—

Article 7

Article 5(1)

Article 4(1)

—

Article 5(3)

Article 4(2)

—

Article 6(1), (2), (3), (4)

Article 5(1), (2), (3), (4)

—

Article 6(5)

—

—

Article 7

Article 6

Article 12

Article 8(1) first indent

Article 7(1), point (a) of first subparagraph

—

Article 8(1) second indent

—

Article 13(1)

Article 8(1) third indent

Article 7(1), point (b) of first subparagraph

—

—

Article 7(1) second subparagraph

Article 13(1) (second subparagraph)

Article 8(2)

Article 7(2)

—

Article 8(2) second subparagraph

—

Article 13(2)

Article 9(1)

—

—

Article 9(2)

—

—

Article 10(1) introductory wording

Article 8

—

Article 10(1)(a), (b), (c), (2), (3), (4)

—

—

Article 11(1), (2)

Article 9(1), (2)

—

Article 11(3), (4)

—

Article 8(1)(2)

Article 12

Article 10

—

Article 13

—

—

Article 14

Article 11(1), (2)

—

—

Article 11(3)

—

—

Article 12

—

—

—

Article 9

Article 15(1)

—

—

—

—

Article 10(1)(2)

Article 15(2)

—

Article 10(3)

Article 15(3)

—

Article 10(4)

Article 15(4)

—

Article 10(5)

Article 15(5)

—

Article 10(6) first, second, third, fifth subparagraphs

—

—

Article 10(6) fourth subparagraph

Article 16

Article 13

—

Article 17

Article 16

—

—

Article 14

—

—

Article 15

—

—

—

Article 11

—

—

Article 14

—

—

Article 15

—

—

Article 16

—

—

Article 17

—

—

Article 18

—

—

Article 19

Annex

—

Annex I

—

Annex I

—

—

Annex II

Annex II

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STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I.   INTRODUCTION

In the framework of the codecision procedure (Article 251 TEC), the Council reached, on 30 November 2007, a political agreement on two separate legal instruments based on the related Commission proposal (1): a draft Directive on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (recast) and a Regulation on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations (recast). This document concerns the part of the Commission proposal that constitutes the recast Directive (2).

Following legal/linguistic revision, the Council adopted its Common Position on 6 June 2008.

In taking its position, the Council took account of the opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee (3) and of the Committee of Regions (4). A large number of the European Parliament's amendments, adopted at first reading on 25 April 2007 (5), were integrated or reflected in the related text, whether it forms part of the Directive or the Regulation according to the Council's position.

The proposal aims at recasting successive amendments to Directive 94/57/EC establishing common rules and standards for organisations that inspect ships and issue ships' certificates, the so-called ‘recognised organisations’. Furthermore, certain provisions of the existing Directive are amended with a view to simplification or harmonisation or in order to reinforce the current rules, e.g. by strengthening the control of recognised organisations and by reforming the system of penalties against those that do not fulfil the minimum recognition criteria.

II.   ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON POSITION

a)   Form of the legal act

The main issue raised during the discussions in the Council bodies was the form of the legal act proposed by the Commission. Several provisions in the proposed Directive must be understood to either impose obligations directly or to devolve competence on the Commission to impose such obligations on individuals, in this case the recognised organisations. This was confirmed by the Council Legal Service in its opinion of 8 October 2007 (doc. 13616/07) that advised to adopt the act in the form of a Regulation or, alternatively, to redraft the provisions in question or to split the act into one Directive and one Regulation.

In its political agreement, the Council agreed to split the text into two separate instruments, a Directive and a Regulation. The Directive includes the provisions addressed to the Member States concerning their relationship with recognised organisations; while the Regulation contains all provisions related to the recognition at Community level, i.e. the granting and the withdrawal of the recognition by the Commission, the obligations and criteria to be fulfilled by the organisations to be eligible for Community recognition as well as possible sanctions against recognised organisations that fail to fulfil these obligations and criteria.

b)   Main issues related to the Directive

The Council was able to agree on almost all main elements of the Commission proposal concerning the relationship of Member States with organisations entrusted with the inspection, survey and certification of ships. The related provisions contain only a few changes compared to the corresponding provisions of the existing Directive 94/57/EC.

The modifications of the text by the Council were either necessary for editorial or terminological reasons or concern the following issues:

| | Firstly, in line with the existing Community system, under which Member States can delegate their powers to recognised organisations to inspect ships and issue certificates under the relevant international conventions, the Council is of the view that, if a Member State does no longer wish to authorise a specific recognised organisation to act on its behalf, it is up to the Member State concerned to suspend or withdraw the authorisation. The text of the Common Position does not specify any procedure, apart from the obligation to inform the Commission and other Member States without delay of the suspension or withdrawal and to give substantiated reasons for this measure. |
| --- | --- |

Firstly, in line with the existing Community system, under which Member States can delegate their powers to recognised organisations to inspect ships and issue certificates under the relevant international conventions, the Council is of the view that, if a Member State does no longer wish to authorise a specific recognised organisation to act on its behalf, it is up to the Member State concerned to suspend or withdraw the authorisation. The text of the Common Position does not specify any procedure, apart from the obligation to inform the Commission and other Member States without delay of the suspension or withdrawal and to give substantiated reasons for this measure.

| | Secondly, in accordance with the amended Comitology Decision (6), the Council introduces in its Common Position the regulatory procedure with scrutiny for the adaptation of the Directive to amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions. |
| --- | --- |

Secondly, in accordance with the amended Comitology Decision (6), the Council introduces in its Common Position the regulatory procedure with scrutiny for the adaptation of the Directive to amendments to the international conventions, protocols, codes and resolutions.

| | Thirdly, the Council deems it appropriate to specify the timeframe for the information by the Commission on the implementation of the Directive by Member States and provides that this will be done every two years. |
| --- | --- |

Thirdly, the Council deems it appropriate to specify the timeframe for the information by the Commission on the implementation of the Directive by Member States and provides that this will be done every two years.

III.   AMENDMENTS

The Council took account of the views expressed by the European Parliament in its first reading of the proposal. The following elements of the EP's opinion are reflected in the Council's Common Position, some of them partly or in principle: amendments 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 20, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 51.

The Council was unable to accept a set of amendments (4, 5, 8, 27 and 48) for terminological reasons. Amendments 30 and 31 are in the Council's view partly not acceptable as they would considerably change the existing rules for harmonising the financial liability of recognised organisations arising out of an incident. The Council does not agree with amendments 46 and 47 because they are too prescriptive and not consistent with the Council's approach to the delegation of powers attributed to Member States. Finally, amendments 1, 21, 28, 33 and 49 are not entirely clear or seem to be redundant.

IV.   CONCLUSION

The Council believes that its Common Position is the appropriate way to provide, by means of this Directive, for measures to be followed by Member States in their relationship with ship inspection and survey organisations, while all provisions related to the recognition of these organisations at Community level are laid down in the parallel Regulation.

The text of the Common Position reflects a large number of the European Parliament's amendments. The Council looks forward to engaging in constructive discussions with the European Parliament with a view to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.

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(1)  The Commission transmitted on 30 January 2006 its proposal for a recast Directive on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (doc. 5912/06 MAR 11 ENV 50 CODEC 95).

(2)  The Council's Common Position on the draft Regulation is set out in doc. 5726/08, the related statement of reasons in doc. 5726/08 ADD 1.

(3)  CESE 1177/2006 of 13.9.2006 (OJ C 318 of 23.12.2006, p. 195-201).

(4)  CdR 43/2006 of 15.6.2006 (OJ C 229 of 22.9.2006, p. 38).

(5)  Doc. 8724/07 CODEC 389 MAR 28 ENV 206 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(6)  Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, as amended by Council Decision 2006/512/EC of 17 July 2006 (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

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