COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(91) 466 final - SYN 369 
Brussels, 27 November 1991 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL PI RECTI YE 
concerning the minimum safety and health requirements 
for work on board fishing vessels 
10th individual Directive within the meaning of Directive 89/391/EEC 
(presented by the Commission) 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Proposal for a Council Directive concerning safety and health at work 
on board fishing vessels. 
1) LEGAL BASIS 
The proposal is based on Article 118a of the EEC Treaty and takes the 
form of an individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 of 
Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of 
measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers 
at the workplace^1), the Annex to which specifically mentions the 
f ish ing industry. 
In its Communication on its programme concerning safety, hygiene and 
health at work^2) the Commission pointed out that fishing was a high-
risk sector because of the particularly high incidence of serious 
accidents. The measures announced by the Commission in its 
Communication were noted by the Council in its Resolution of 21 
December 1987(3). 
(1) OJ L 183 of 29.6.1989, pp. 1 and 59 
(2) OJ C 28 of 3.2.1988, pp. 3-8 
(3) OJ C 28 of 3.2.1988, pp. 1-2 
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The proposal forms part of the action planned to cater for the social 
aspects of the completion of the internal market^4) and is one of the 
initiatives referred to by the Commission in the Communication on its 
action programme relating to the implementation of the Community 
Charter of Basic Social Rights for Workers^5). 
2) AIMS OF THE PROPOSAL 
The proposal applies to all vessels over 12 m long, which in practice 
means all vessels operated by more than one person. Its aims are as 
fol lows: 
to lay down minimum health and safety requirements for fishing 
vessels as special workplaces, since these are excluded from the 
scope of Council Directive 89/654/EEC<6> of 30.11.1989 (1st 
individual Directive); 
(4) White paper - C0M(85) 310 final 
(5) C0M(89) 568 final 
(6) OJ L 393 of 30.12.1989, pp. 1-12 
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to promote better health and safety conditions on board, by 
requiring external, and in particular meteorological, conditions to 
be taken into account, and compliance with specific minimum 
requirements during work; 
to cater for the free movement of workers in the fishing sector by 
laying down general training criteria for health and safety on 
board and the use of emergency escape and survival equipment, and 
by providing for detailed training for any person likely to command 
a vesse I ; 
to promote the provision on board of suitable emergency escape and 
survival equipment and, for vessels working away from the coast, 
position-indicating equipment for use in the event of shipwreck; 
finally, to promote the use on board of appropriate personal 
protective equipment for the specific requirements of work at sea. 
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3) THE PROPOSAL IN RELATION TO EXISTING NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND 
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS 
a) All coastal Member States have legislation covering certain aspects 
of the health and safety of fishermen. 
Most of this is based on international provisions: 
the International Maritime Organization's International 
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (1974); 
the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention 
for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974; 
International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No 125 
concerning Fishermen's Certificates of Competency; 
the Torremolinos Convention on the Safety of Fishing Vessels 
(IMO) (1977); 
and the 1974 Safety and health requirements for the construction 
and equipment of fishing vessels, drawn up jointly by the IMO, the 
ILO and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 
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In this context it should be pointed out that ILO Convention 125 
and the Torremolinos Convention have been ratified and transposed 
into national law by only a limited number of Member States (3 and 
7 respectively). Most countries have legislation which takes 
account of at least part of one or other of these Conventions. It 
should also be noted that the Torremolinos Convention applies only 
to vessels over 24 m and has not come into force because the 
countries which have ratified it do not account for sufficient 
tonnage as laid down in the Convention. There are plans to revise 
the Convention to make some of its provisions applicable to vessels 
over 55 m only. 
These international conventions and the related secondary 
legislation in the Member States deal mainly with the intrinsic 
safety of vessels or emergency equipment, rather than health and 
safety at work, and it is therefore this latter area which the 
Commission particularly wishes to cover. 
Furthermore, the proposal will not affect current work on revising 
the Torremolinos Convention, provided that it guarantees at least 
an equivalent level of safety and protection for workers. In this 
context, the Commission reserves the right to take measures to 
ensure that the Convention or similar provisions are applied as 
widely as possible to fishing vessels in the Community. 
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b) There are therefore major discrepancies in the national 
legislations of the different Member States with regard to the 
provisions contained in this proposal. An analysis shows that the 
legislation in many Member States covers vessels over a certain 
length only, and this can vary from one country to another. 
Some Member States have no specific provisions at all on some of 
the aspects covered by this proposal, in particular health and 
safety training for fishermen. 
c) The proposal's provisions on information, training, consultation 
and participation for fishermen contain elements which relate 
specifically to the fishing industry, but take the same form as 
those contained in Directive 89/391/EEC and individual Directives 
89/654/EEC, 89/655/EEC<7>, 89/656/EEC<8>, 90/269/EEC<9) and 
90/270/EEC(1°) and the current proposal for a Council Directive 
concerning the minimum requirements for the provision of safety 
and/or health signs at work^11). 
(7) OJ L 393 of 30.12.1989, pp. 13-17 
(8) OJ L 393 of 30.12.1989, pp. 18 and 59 
(9) OJ L 156 of 21.06.1990, pp. 9-13 
(10) 0J L 156 of 21.6.1990, pp. 14 and 59 
(11) OJ C 53 of 28.2.1991, pp. 46-64 
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These new provisions could therefore be incorporated into national 
legislation in the same way; Member States which have already 
transposed the Directives referred to above will have some 
experience in the matter. 
4) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSAL 
a) This proposal is based on Article 118a of the EEC Treaty and is 
intended to establish minimum health and safety requirements for 
work in the fishing industry. 
b) The proposal is for an individual Directive within the meaning of 
Article 16 of Directive 89/391/EEC, which established a new legal 
framework. This means that a number of the recitals, the provisions 
on information, training, consultation and participation for 
workers (in this case fishermen) and the final provisions have all 
been drafted in accordance with similar provisions contained in 
Directive 89/391/EEC and/or the individual Directives referred to 
in paragraph 3 c). 
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For the same reasons the definitions given in Article 3 of 
Directive 89/391/EEC also apply to the new proposal and have not 
been repeated. 
c) Article 4 of the proposal contains provisions to ensure consistency 
with any other Directives covering fishing vessels or the equipment 
on board adopted pursuant to Article 100a. 
d) The minimum requirements proposed were taken from or based on the 
international conventions referred to in paragraph 3 a). The aim 
of the proposal is to extend and harmonize existing provisions in 
the field rather than to introduce completely new provisions. 
However, since the international conventions do not cover safety 
and working conditions in the fishing industry, new provisions have 
been introduced on workstation design, work organization, living 
conditions on board, suitable health and safety training for 
fishermen and detailed health and safety training for anyone likely 
to command a vessel. 
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5) CONSULTATION OF THE PARTIES CONCERNED 
Experts, government representatives and representatives of workers' and 
employers' organizations were consulted by the Commission and were 
involved in the preparation of the proposal. In particular the Joint 
Committee on Social Problems in Sea Fishing was invited to comment, and 
its observations were taken into account in the drafting of this 
proposal. 
The Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work 
(set up by Council Decision 74/325/EEC of 27.6.1974(12) ) was also 
consulted and issued a generally favourable opinion, which was taken 
into account in the drafting of the proposal. 
6) DESCRIPTION OF THE ARTICLES OF AND ANNEXES TO THE PROPOSAL 
Articles 1 and 2 contain general provisions describing the object 
of the Directive and its scope and giving various definitions. 
(12) OJ L 185 Of 9.7.1974, p. 15 
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Articles 3-7 lay down obligations for vessel owners for the 
protection of the health and safety of fishermen: 
while the vessel is in use (Article 3), 
when the vessel is fitted out, for new vessels (Article 4), 
vessels already in use (Article 5) or vessels undergoing 
alterations (Article 6), 
when the vessel is maintained (Article 7). 
Article 8 deals with information on health and safety for 
f ishermen. 
Article 9 deals with health and safety training for fishermen. 
Article 10 relates to detailed health and safety training for any 
person likely to command a vessel. 
Article 11 relates to the consultation and participation of 
f ishermen. 
Article 12 describes the procedure for adapting the annexes. 
Article 13 and 14 contain the final provisions. 
Annex I lays down minimum health and safety requirements for 
fishing vessels commissioned for the first time or altered or 
transformed on or after 1 January 1995. 
Ill IP 1 
life-
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Annex II lays down minimum health and safety requirements for 
vessels commissioned before 1 January 1995. 
Annex III lays down minimum health and safety requirements 
concerning emergency escape and survival equipment. 
Annex IV lays down specific health and safety requirements for 
personal protective equipment used at sea. 
i £ 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
concerning the minimum safety and health requirements 
for work on board fishing vessels 
COUNCIL OF* THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establisning the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 118A thereof, 
Having regard to the Commission proposal, drawn up after consultation 
with the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at 
Work, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas the Commission communication in its programme concerning 
safety, hygiene and health at work^1) provides for measures to make 
safety a more integral part of the design of vessels and the definition 
of tasks; 
Whereas the Council in its Resolution of 21 December 1987 on safety, 
hygiene and health at work<2) noted the Commission's intention of 
submitting to it minimum requirements concerning the organization of 
the safety and health of workers at work; 
Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements for ensuring a better 
level of safety and health on board fishing vessels is essential to 
ensure the safety and health of the workers concerned; 
(1) OJ C 28 of 3.2.1988, p. 3 
(2) OJ C 28 Of 3.2.1988, p. 1 , :]r-
11": 
(•:! *:::: 
NI +'! 
111 
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Whereas, because of the particularly difficult working and living 
conditions on board fishing vessels, the incidence of fatal accidents 
among workers engaged in sea fishing is very high; 
Whereas this Directive is an individual Directive within the meaning of 
Article 16, paragraph 1, of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 
12 June 1989(3) on the introduction of measures to encourage 
improvements in the safety and health of workers at work and that 
therefore the provisions of the latter are fully applicable to work on 
board fishing vessels, without prejudice to more stringent and/or 
specific provisions contained in the present Directive; 
Whereas the individual Directives already adopted in the field of 
safety and health at work apply, unless otherwise specified, to sea 
fishing and that therefore it may in some cases be necessary to specify 
the particular characteristics of this activity in order to ensure that 
the individual Directives are correctly applied; 
Whereas the Council Directive on the minimum health and safety 
requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels^4) is 
applicable in full to the sea fishing industry-, 
Whereas this Directive constitutes concrete progress towards the 
achievement of *he social dimension of the internal market, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
(3) OJ L 183 of 29.6.1989, p. 1 
(4) OJ C 183 of 24.7.1990, p. 6 
IP! 
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OBJECT 
Art icle 1 
1) This Directive, which is an individual Directive within the meaning 
of Article 16 of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum safety and 
health requirements applicable to work on board fishing vessels. 
2) The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC are fully applicable to the 
field described in paragraph 1 without prejudice to more stringent 
and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive. 
DEFINITION 
Art icle 2 
For the purposes of this Directive, the following terms Jiave the 
meanings hereby assigned to them: 
fishing vessel (hereinafter called vessel): any vessel registered 
in a Member State or flying the flag of a Member State, used for 
catching or processing fish or other living resources from the sea, 
with a length between perpendiculars of 12 m or over; 
fisherman: any worker within the meaning of Article 3 (a) of 
Directive 89/391/EEC carrying out an activity on board a fishing 
vessel, or any person who, in carrying out an activity on board, is 
subordinate to the captain of the vessel; 
owner: the registered owner of a vessel, unless that vessel has 
been chartered by demise or is managed, either wholly or in part, 
by a natural or legal person other than the registered owner under 
the terms of a management agreement; in that case the owner shall 
be construed as the demise charterer or natural or legal person 
managing the vessel, as appropriate. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Art icle 3 
The Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that: 
owners ensure that their vessels are fit for use, on the 
responsibility of the captain, in conditions, and in particular 
meteorological conditions, which do not endanger the health and 
safety of the fishermen; 
account is taken of any hazards faced by the rest of the crew when 
applying Article 8 (4) of Directive 89/391/EEC; 
any occurrences at sea which affect or could affect the health and 
safety of the fishermen on board are described in a detailed report 
to be forwarded to the relevant maritime authorities and are 
recorded carefully and in detail in the ship's log, where the 
national regulations or legislation in force require such a log to 
be kept on the type of vessel in question. 
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VESSELS COMMISSIONED FOR THE FIRST TIME 
Art icle 4 
Vessels commissioned for the first time on or after 1 January 1996 must 
comply with the minimum health and safety requirements laid down in 
Annexes I and III. 
However, the minimum requirements contained in Annex I shall apply to 
the vessels referred to in the previous paragraph only if there are no 
relevant Community provisions introduced pursuant to Article 100a of 
the Treaty which guarantee at least an equivalent level of protection. 
VESSELS ALREADY IN USE 
Art icle 5 
Vessels already commissioned before 1 January 1996 must comply with the 
minimum health and safety requirements laid down in Annexes II and Ml 
within three years of that date. 
ALTERATIONS TO VESSELS 
Art icle 6 
Where vessels undergo structural alterations and/or transformations on 
or after 1 January 1996, such alterations and/or transformations must 
comply with the relevant minimum requirements laid down in Annexes I 
and III. 
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Art icle 7 
For the protection of the health and safety of workers, the Member 
States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that owners: 
ensure that the vessels and their fittings and equipment, 
particularly those referred to in Annexes I and II, are technically 
maintained, and that any defects found which are likely to affect 
the health and safety of the fishermen are rectified as quickly as 
possible; 
take measures to ensure that the vessels and all fittings and 
equipment are cleaned regularly in order to maintain an appropriate 
standard of hygiene; 
keep on board the vessel an adequate quantity of suitable emergency 
and survival equipment in good working order in accordance with the 
specifications given in Annex III; 
take account, when implementing the provisions of Directive 
89/656/EEC^), of the personal protective equipment specifications 
given in Annex IV. 
(5) OJ L 393 of 30.12.1989, p. 18 
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INFORMATION FOR FISHERMEN 
Art icle 8 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 10 of Directive 
89/391/EEC, the fishermen shall be informed of all measures to be taken 
regarding health and safety on board vessels. 
TRAINING OF FISHERMEN 
Art icle 9 
Without prejudice to Article 12 of Directive 89/391/EEC, fishermen 
shall be given suitable training, in particular in the form of specific 
instructions, on health and safety on board vessels. 
The training shall cover in particular the use of emergency escape and 
survival equipment and, for the fishermen concerned, the use of fishing 
gear and hauling equipment and the use of various types of signs, 
including hand signals. 
DETAILED TRAINING 
Art icle 10 
Without prejudice to Article 5(3) of the Council Directive on the 
minimum health and safety requirements for improved medical treatment 
on board vessels, any person likely to command a vessel shall be given 
deta i led training on: 
the prevention of occupational accidents on board; 
vessel stability and maintenance thereof when laden and during 
f ishing operat ions; 
radio navigation and communication. 
CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION OF WORKERS 
Art icle 11 
The consultation of fishermen and/or their representatives and their 
participation in discussions on the matters covered by this Directive 
and its annexes shall be in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 
89/391/EEC. 
ADAPTATION OF THE ANNEXES 
Article 12 
Purely technical adaptations of the annexes to take account of: 
the adoption of directives in the field of technical harmonization 
and standardization concerning certain aspects of the field covered 
by this Direct ive; 
and/or 
technical progress, changes in international regulations or 
specifications and new findings in the field of safety and health 
on board vessels; 
shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 
17 of Directive 89/391/EEC. 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
Art icle 13 
1. The Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive 
by 1 January 1995 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the 
Commission thereof. 
Any such laws, regulations and administrative provisions adopted by 
the Member States shall contain a reference to this Directive, or 
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shall be accompanied by such a reference upon official publication 
The Member States shall decide on this matter. 
2. The Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of 
the provisions of national law which they have already adopted or 
adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 
3. The Member States shall report to the Commission every five years 
on the practical implementation of the provisions of this 
Directive, indicating the points of view of employers and workers. 
The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, 
the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee on 
Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. 
Art icle 14 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at 
For the Counc i I, 
The President 
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ANNEX 
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR FISHING VESSELS 
COMMISSIONED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS REFERRED TO IN 
ARTICLES 4, 6 AND 7 OF THE DIRECTIVE 
1. Preliminary note 
The obligations laid down in this Annex apply whenever required 
by the features of the workplace, the activity, the 
circumstances or a hazard foreseeable on board a fishing 
vesse I . 
2. Stability and solidity 
2.1. The hull, deckhouse superstructures, trunks, engines, 
companionways and other structures of the vessel, together with 
its fittings, must be sufficiently solid to enable it to 
withstand all foreseeable conditions in the service for which 
it is intended. 
2.2. If a vessel is intended for use in ice, its hull must be 
strengthened to take account of the anticipated sailing 
conditions and the area of deployment. 
2.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the 
conditions of service for which they are intended. 
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2.4. Any person likely to command a vessel must be familiar with the 
parameters governing the stability of that vessel so that he 
can maintain stability at all times when the vessel is laden 
and during fishing operations. Information on the vessel's 
stability must be available on board and must be accessible to 
the men on watch. 
3. Electrical installations 
Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as 
not to present any danger and so as to provide: 
protection for the crew and vessel from electrical hazards, 
the services necessary to maintain the vessel in normal 
operational and habitable conditions without having 
recourse to an emergency power supply, and 
the services essential for safety if the main electrical 
power source faiIs. 
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An emergency source of electrical power must be provided 
outside the engine room and be so arranged as to ensure its 
functioning in the event of fire or other causes of failure of 
the main electricity supply. 
The emergency source must be capable of providing power 
simultaneously for: 
internal communication equipment, fire detection systems 
and signals which may be required in an emergency; 
the navigation lights if solely electrical and the 
emergency lights aboard; 
the emergency fire pumps or bilge pump, where present, 
for at least three hours, to give the rescue services time to 
reach the vesse I . 
Main and emergency switchboards must be located in different 
places so that they cannot all be accidentally exposed to 
flooding or f i re. 
4. Emergency escape routes and exits 
4.1. Emergency escape routes and exits must remain clear and lead as 
directly as possible to the open deck or to a safe area and 
thence to the survival craft so that fishermen can evacuate 
workstations and living quarters quickly and safely. 
4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the emergency escape 
routes and exits must depend on the maximum potential number of 
persons present. 
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4.3. Emergency doors and other emergency exits must be adequately 
watertight and fire resistant for their location and particular 
funct ion. 
Emergency doors should be operable from both sides easily and 
immediately by any person who may require to use them in an 
emergency. 
4.4. Specific emergency escape routes, facilities and exits must be 
indicated by signs in accordance with national regulations 
transposing Directive 77/576/EEC^6^ into law. 
Signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last. 
4.5. The emergency escape routes, facilities and exits, and the 
traffic routes and doors giving access to them, must be free 
from obstruction so that they can be used at any time without 
h indrance. 
(6) OJ L 229 of 7.9.1977, p. 12 
4.6. Emergency escape routes, facilities and exits requiring 
illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of 
adequate intensity in case the lighting fails. 
5. Fire detection and fire fighting 
5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the 
equipment it contains, the physical and chemical properties of 
the substances, products and materials present and the maximum 
potential number of people present, the crew accommodation and 
interior workplaces including the fish-hold, where necessary, 
must be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, 
as necessary, with fire detectors and alarm systems. 
5.2. Non-automatic fire fighting equipment must be easily accessible 
and simple to use. 
The equipment must be indicated by signs in accordance with the 
national regulations transposing Directive 77/576/EEC into law. 
Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to 
last. 
6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces 
Steps must be taken to see to it that there is sufficient fresh 
air in enclosed workplaces, having regard to the working 
methods used and the physical demands placed on the fishermen. 
If a ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in 
working order. 
Any breakdown must be indicated by a control system where this 
is necessary for fishermen's health. 
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7. Room temperature 
The temperature in living quarters, working areas, sanitary 
facilities and first-aid rooms must be appropriate to the 
particular purpose of such areas. 
8. Natural and artificial lighting of working areas 
8.1. Where workplaces do not receive sufficient natural light they 
must be equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the 
operation in hand, without placing the fishermen's safety and 
health in danger or Jeopardizing other vessels. 
8.2. Lighting installations in areas containing workplaces, stairs, 
ladders, and in passageways must be placed in such a way that 
there is no risk of accident to the fishermen and no hindrance 
to the navigation of the vessel. 
8.3. Workplaces in which fishermen are especially exposed to risks 
in the event of failure of artificial lighting must be provided 
with emergency lighting of adequate intensity. 
9. Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms 
9.1. The floors of workplaces must be provided with non-slip 
surfacing and kept clear and free of obstacles. 
Rooms containing workstations must be adequately insulated and 
soundproofed, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved and 
the physical activity of the fishermen. 
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9.2. The surface of floors, walls and ceilings in workplaces must be 
such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate 
standard of hygiene. 
10. Doors 
10.1 The position and number of doors in watertight bulkheads and 
weatherproof enclosed superstructures should be reduced to the 
minimum compatible with the general arrangement and operational 
needs of the fishing vessel; openings must be fitted with 
appropriate means of sealing them off. 
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10.2 Doors and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be 
used, must function without risk of accident to the fishermen, 
especially in adverse weather and sea conditions. 
11. Traffic routes - danger areas 
11.1 Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all 
traffic routes in general must be equipped with guard rails, 
grab rails and lifelines or other means of ensuring the safety 
of the crew in the course of its activities on board. 
Traffic areas around the foot and the top of ladders and 
stairways must be provided with non-slip surfacing. 
11.2 Fixed ladders and stairways must be of adequate size and 
strength, with non-slip rungs and steps and handrails. If the 
top of the ladder on the upper deck leads into a trunk, a 
landing shall be provided. If the ladder leads onto an opening 
on the upper deck, the hand-rails must be extended to meet the 
guard rail protecting the opening on the upper deck. 
11.3 If there is a risk that fishermen may fall through openings in 
the deck, or from one deck to another, adequate protection 
should be provided, wherever possible in the form of guard 
rails of adequate height (in all cases over 1 m). 
11.4 Effective bulwarks must be installed on all exposed parts of 
the working deck of an adequate height to protect the crew from 
water washing onto the deck, taking into account the state of 
the sea and the weather conditions in which the vessel may be 
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used. The bulwarks must be fitted with scuppers or other 
similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly. 
Fixed bulwarks must be high enough to protect fishermen from 
falls and in all cases higher than 750 mm. 
However, if bulwarks of such a height may constitute a 
hindrance to fishing operations on any part of the deck, other 
arrangements must be made providing the same degree of safety. 
11.5 Access to installations above the deck for operation or 
maintenance purposes must be such as to ensure the safety of 
the crew. Guard rails or similar devices of appropriate height 
must be provided to prevent falls. 
11.6 On stern trawlers with ramps, the ramp must be fitted with a 
gate or other means of securing it of the same height as the 
adjacent bulwarks, to protect seamen from water entering from 
the stern and from the risk of falling into the ramp. This gate 
or other device must be easily opened and closed, preferably by 
remote control, must only be open for hauling in the net and 
must be capable of being shut as soon as the trawl has been 
hoisted on board. 
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12. Layout of the workstations 
12.1 Non-slip flooring must be provided in the fishing gear and 
catch handling areas, the engine room, the workshops, the 
galley and other working areas. 
12.2 Working areas must be kept clear, must be protected against the 
sea and must provide adequate protection for seamen against 
falling on board or overboard. 
Handling areas must be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both 
height and surface area. 
12.3 The vessel's engines must be controlled from a room which is 
separate, insulated and soundproofed from the engine room, and 
which must be accessible without entering the latter. 
12.4 The controls for the hauling gear must be installed in an area 
sufficiently large to enable operators to work unhindered. 
The hauling gear must also have automatic stop facilities to 
prevent improper use, and emergency stop facilities. 
12.5 The hauling gear operator must have an adequate view of the 
hauling gear and the men at work. 
If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the operator 
should also have a clear view of the men at work, either 
directly or via any other suitable medium. 
(6) 
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12.6 A reliable communication system must be used between the bridge 
and the working deck. 
12.7 Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the 
equipment must be minimized by installing protective devices. 
Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on 
trawlers : 
- devices to immobilize the otter boards, 
- devices to control the swinging motion of the codend. 
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13. Accommoda t i on 
13.1 The location, design, soundproofing and insulation of the 
crew's accommodation and facilities and the access thereto 
should be such as to provide adequate protection against 
weather and sea, vibration and the effects of speed and against 
unpleasant odours from other parts of the vessel likely to 
disturb the fishermen during their period of rest. Appropriate 
measures should be taken to protect non-smokers against 
discomfort caused by tobacco smoke. 
13.2 The crew's accommodation should be properly ventilated to 
ensure a constant supply of fresh air and prevent condensation. 
Appropriate lighting must be provided in the crew quarters, 
with: 
adequate normal general lighting 
reduced general lighting to avoid disturbing fishermen who 
are rest ing 
local lighting in each berth. 
13.3 The galley and mess should be of adequate size, adequately lit 
and ventilated and easy to maintain to appropriate standards of 
hygiene. 
A storeroom of adequate size should be provided and should be 
ventilated to ensure it is kept fresh and dry. 
Refrigerators or other low temperature food storage equipment 
must be provided. 
14. Sanitary facilities 
Hot showers should be provided on vessels equipped with crew 
quarters. The sanitary facilities, washbasins and showers, 
where appropriate, must be properly installed, equipped and 
ventilated. Toilets must be provided, and should be in a 
separate room from the other sanitary faciIities.The sanitary 
facilities must be accessible directly from the crew quarters 
without having to go out on deck. 
15. Accommodation ladders and gangways 
An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment 
providing an appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel 
must be ava i lable. 
16. Noise 
Without prejudice to national regulations transposing Directive 
86/188/EEC^7^ and applicable to workers at work, noise levels 
in the crew quarters (particularly cabins) and the sanitary 
facilities must be compatible with the purpose for which such 
areas are used. 
(7) OJ L 137 of 24.5.1986 
- 3%-
ANNEX I I 
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR FISHING VESSELS 
ALREADY IN USE, AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLES 5 AND 7 OF THE DIRECTIVE 
1. Preliminary note 
The obligations laid down in this Annex apply whenever required 
by the features of the workplace, the activity, the 
circumstances or a hazard foreseeable on board a fishing 
vessel . 
2. StabiIity and solidity 
2.1. The hull, deckhouse superstructures, engine casing, 
companionways and other structures of the vessel, together with 
its fittings, must be sufficiently solid to enable it to 
withstand all foreseeable conditions in the service for which 
it is intended. 
2.2. If a vessel is intended for use in ice, its hull must be 
strengthened to take account of the anticipated sailing 
conditions and the area of deployment. 
2.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the 
conditions of service for which they are intended. 
- 39-
2.4. Any person likely to command a vessel must be familiar with the 
parameters governing the stability of that vessel so that he 
can maintain stability at all times when the vessel is laden 
and during fishing operations. Information on the vessel's 
stability must be available on board and must be accessible to 
the men on watch. 
3. Electrical installations 
Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as 
not to present any danger and so as to provide: 
protection for the crew and vessel from electrical hazards; 
the services necessary to maintain the vessel in normal 
operational and habitable conditions without having 
recourse to an emergency power supply, and 
the services essential for safety if the main electrical 
power source fa iIs. 
. qo-
An emergency source of electrical power must be provided 
outside the engine room and be so arranged as to ensure its 
functioning in the event of fire or other causes of failure of 
the main electricity supply. 
The emergency source must be capable of providing power 
simultaneously for: 
internal communication equipment, fire detection systems 
and signals which may be required in an emergency; 
the navigation lights if solely electrical and the 
emergency Iights aboard; 
the emergency fire pumps or bilge pump, where present, 
for at least three hours, to give the rescue services time to 
reach the vesseI. 
Main and emergency switchboards must be located in different 
places so that they cannot all be accidentally exposed to 
flooding or f ire. 
-If 4-
4. Emergency escape routes and exits 
4.1. Emergency escape routes and exits must remain clear and lead as 
directly as possible to the open deck or to a safe area and 
thence to the survival craft so that fishermen can evacuate 
workstations and living quarters quickly and safely. 
4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the emergency escape 
routes and exits must depend on the maximum potential number of 
persons present. 
4.3. Emergency doors and other emergency exits must be adequately 
watertight and fire resistant for their location and particular 
funct ion. 
Emergency doors should be operable from both sides easily and 
immediately by any person who may require to use them in an 
emergency. 
-V-e-
4.4. Specific emergency escape routes, facilities and exits must be 
indicated by signs in accordance with national regulations 
transposing Directive 77/576/EEC into law. 
Signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last 
4.5. The emergency escape routes, facilities and exits, and the 
traffic routes and doors giving access to them, must be free 
from obstruction so that they can be used at any time without 
h indrance. 
4.6. Emergency escape routes, facilities and exits requiring 
illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of 
adequate intensity in case the lighting fails. 
Fire detection and fire fighting 
5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the 
equipment it contains, the physical and chemical properties of 
the substances, products and materials present and the maximum 
potential number of people present, the crew accommodation and 
interior workplaces including the fish-hold, where necessary, 
must be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, 
as necessary, with fire detectors and alarm systems. 
5.2. Non-automatic fire fighting equipment must be easily accessible 
and simple to use. 
The equipment must be indicated by signs in accordance with the 
national regulations transposing Directive 77/576/EEC into law. 
Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to 
last 
6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces 
Steps must be taken to see to it that there is sufficient fresh 
air in enclosed workplaces, having regard to the working 
methods used and the physical demands placed on the fishermen. 
If a ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in 
work i ng order. 
Any breakdown must be indicated by a control system where this 
is necessary for fishermen's health. 
- MX-
7. Room temperature 
The temperature in living quarters, working areas, sanitary 
facilities and first-aid rooms must be appropriate to the 
particular purpose of such areas. 
8. Natural and artificial lighting of working areas 
8.1. Where workplaces do not receive sufficient natural light they 
must be equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the 
operation in hand, without placing the fishermen's safety and 
health in danger or jeopardizing other vessels. 
8.2. Lighting installations in areas containing workplaces, stairs, 
ladders, and in passageways must be placed in such a way that 
there is no risk of accident to the fishermen and no hindrance 
to the navigation of the vessel. 
8.3. Workplaces in which fishermen are especially exposed to risks 
in the event of failure of artificial lighting must be provided 
with emergency lighting of adequate intensity 
9. Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms 
9.1. The floors of workplaces must be provided with non-slip 
surfacing and kept clear and free of obstacles. 
Rooms containing workstations must be adequately insulated and 
soundproofed, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved and 
the physical activity of the fishermen. 
9.2. The surface of floors, walls and ceilings in workplaces must be 
such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate 
standard of hygiene. 
10. Doors 
10.1 The position and number of doors in watertight bulkheads and 
weatherproof enclosed superstructures should be reduced to the 
-^-
minimum compatible with the general arrangement and operational 
needs of the fishing vessel; openings must be fitted with 
appropriate means of sealing them off. 
- vs-
10.2 Doors and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be 
used, must function without risk of accident to the fishermen, 
especially in adverse weather and sea conditions. 
11. Traffic routes - danger areas 
11.1 Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all 
traffic routes in general must be equipped with guard rails, 
grab rails and lifelines or other means of ensuring the safety 
of the crew in the course of its activities on board. 
Traffic areas around the foot and the top of ladders and 
stairways must be provided with non-slip surfacing. 
11.2 Fixed ladders and stairways must be of adequate size and 
strength, with non-slip rungs and steps and handrails. If the 
top of the ladder on the upper deck leads into a trunk, a 
landing shall be provided. If the ladder leads onto an opening 
on the upper deck, the hand-rails must be extended to meet the 
guard rail protecting the opening on the upper deck. 
- V3. 
11.3 If there is a risk that fishermen may fall through openings in 
the deck, or from one deck to another, adequate protection 
should be provided, wherever possible in the form of guard 
rails of adequate height (in all cases over 1 m). 
11.4 Effective bulwarks must be installed on all exposed parts of 
the working deck of an adequate height to protect the crew from 
water washing onto the deck, taking into account the state of 
the sea and the weather conditions in which the vessel may be 
used. The bulwarks must be fitted with scuppers or other 
similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly. 
Fixed bulwarks must be high enough to protect fishermen from 
falls and in all cases higher than 750 mm. 
However, if bulwarks of such a height may constitute a 
hindrance to fishing operations on any part of the deck, other 
arrangements must be made providing the same degree of safety. 
- To -
12. Layout of the workstations 
12.1 Non-slip flooring must be provided in the fishing gear and 
catch handling areas, the engine room, the workshops, the 
galley and other working areas. 
12.2 Working areas must be kept clear, must be protected against the 
sea and must provide adequate protection for seamen against 
falling on board or overboard. 
Handling areas shall be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both 
height and surface area. 
12.3 Where the structure of the vessel allows, the controls for the 
hauling gear must be installed in an area sufficiently large to 
enable operators to work unhindered. 
The hauling gear must also have automatic stop facilities to 
prevent improper use, and emergency stop facilities. 
12.4 Where the structure of the vessel allows, the hauling gear 
operator must have an adequate view of the hauling gear and the 
men at work. 
If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the operator 
should also have a clear view of the men at work, either 
directly or via any other suitable medium. 
12.5 A reliable comunication system shall be used between the bridge 
and the working deck. 
12.6 Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the 
equipment must be minimized by installing protective devices. 
Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on 
trawlers : 
- devices to immobilize the otter boards, 
- devices to control the swinging motion of the codend 
- sz-
13. Accommoda t i on 
13.1 The crew's accommodation should be designed in such a way as to 
minimize noise, vibration, the effects of speed and unpleasant 
odours from other parts of the vessel; appropriate lighting 
must be provided. 
13.2 Refrigerators or other low temperature food storage equipment 
must be provided. 
13.3 A toilet and washbasin, and, where possible, a shower, must be 
properly installed and ventilated 
14. Accommodation ladders and gangways 
An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment 
providing an appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel 
must be ava i lable. 
. S3. 
ANNEX I Ii 
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 
CONCERNING THE EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT 
REFERRED TO IN ARTICLES 4, 5, 6 AND 7 
1. Fishing vessels travelling further than 20 nautical miles from 
the nearest coast must carry a hydrostatically activated 
emergency position-indicating radio beacon operating on the 
international distress frequency (406.025 MHz) and coded in 
accordance with the vessel's call sign. The radio beacon must 
be easily transferable to any group lifesaving equipment used. 
2. Every vessel must carry sufficient life rafts or lifeboats to 
accommodate everyone on board, and they must be located in 
places from which they can be launched safely simply by 
dropping, without any vertical or horizontal obstacles between 
them and the water; it must also be possible to board them 
easily, quickly and safely. 
3. The life rafts and lifeboats must be designed in such a way 
that they can be boarded easily and quickly, located visually 
in daylight and at night and located by radar. They should be 
equipped with: 
a boat hook (on craft other than dinghies) and ropes, 
oars and rowlocks, including spares 
a three-day supply of food and drinking water 
adequate survival equipment and instructions on survival 
a watertight medicine chest which fulfils the minimum 
category D requirements given in Annex II of the Council 
Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements for 
improved medical treatment on board vessels. 
A lifeboat drill must be carried out at least once every three 
months. 
4. Life buoys, inflatable arm bands and immersion suits must be 
available in sufficient number and easily and quickly 
accessible. Hand rails or handles must be positioned near 
immersion suits to help those putting them on. 
~ SS -
ANNEX IV 
MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 
CONCERNING THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 
REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 7 
1. A tabard incorporating floats and a harness must be used if the 
collective protection equipment such as bulwarks, guard rails, 
safety loops and hand rails does not provide an acceptable 
level of safety for work carried out on the open deck. 
2. Personal protective equipment in the form of clothing or worn 
over clothing must be in bright colours, contrasting with the 
marine environment and clearly visible in the dark. 
3. If personal equipment is used to protect the head or eyes, it 
must be securely attached to the head. 
- S6 -
SECTION 1; FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
1. TITLE OF THE ACTION: Proposal for a Council Directive concerning 
the minimum health and safety requirements for work on board 
fishing vessels. 
2. BUDGET ITEMS CONCERNED 
B3-4310: Measures in the field of safety, hygiene and health 
protection at work, including specific measures for the 
completion of the internal market. 
A 2510: Committees whose consultation is compulsory (Technical 
Adjustments Committee referred to in Article 17 of 
Direct ive 89/391/EEC). 
A 2531: Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health 
Protection at Work. 
3. LEGAL BASIS 
Article 118a of the EEC Treaty. 
4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 
4.1. Specific objectives of the action 
4.1.1. Objectives of the proposal for a Directive 
The aims of the proposal are: 
to promote better health and safety conditions on board fishing 
vessels; 
to deal with the risks which may arise from the free movement 
of workers; 
to encourage the provision on board of suitable emergency 
escape and survival equipment and the use of appropriate 
personal protective equipment for the specific requirements of 
work at sea. 
4.1.2. Characteristics of the proposal for a Directive 
(particularly those with financial implications) 
4.1.2.1. The proposal, and in particular its annexes, is 
to be adapted and expanded to give further 
details of certain aspects relating to the use 
of safety and/or health signs. 
4.1.2.2. The proposal requires the Member States to 
forward to the Commission details of the 
national legislation to be introduced in 
implementation of the proposal and reports.on 
the progress of such legislation. 
4.1.2.3. The proposal also provides for a Committee to 
assist the Commission with additional work. 
- sg-
It is the additional activities already scheduled or to be planned 
subsequently which have financial implications. 
4.2. Durât ion 
Unspeci fled. 
4.3. Target population 
The sea fishing industry. 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE 
5.1. Non-compulsory expenditure. 
6. NATURE OF EXPENDITURE 
6.1. 100% f inance. 
7. FINANCIAL IMPACT 
7.1. Method of calculation. 
7.1.1. Additional activities to be carried out after the Directive 
is adopted 
a) monitoring the application of the Directive in the Member 
States 
b) revision of the annexes 
- o-
c) consultation of experts 
d) operation of the Technical Adjustments Committee 
e) consultation of the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene 
and Health Protection at Work. 
7.1.2. Types of activities with financial implications generated 
by point 5.1 
These include: 
* study and/or services contracts to 
compare and evaluate the data received by the Commission; 
study the problems posed by the application of the 
D i rect ive; 
study the problems associated with the annexes and prepare 
amendments to them. 
* expenses for meetings with experts 
* operating costs for the Technical Adjustments Committee 
* costs of consulting the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene 
and Health Protection at Work. 
7.1.3. Calculation of expenditure 
Since the number and scale of the additional activities involved 
are not known, it is impossible to calculate the exact expenditure 
requi red. 
Costs are calculated on the basis of a "man/month" unit, which 
currently stands at ECU 4 000. 
The cost of consulting a government expert has been calculated at 
ECU 420, or ECU 545 for a non-government expert (per day). The 
costs will be spread over a number of years and will be 
progressive. The figures given in paragraph 7.3 are overall 
est imates. 
For budget item A 2510 (Technical Adjustments Committee), the 
figure covers two meetings of group 3 experts (government experts) 
in 1994, then three meetings per year from 1995. 
For item A 2531 (Advisory Committee), the figure covers two 
meetings per year of an ad hoc group of 12 members, including four 
government experts. The meetings will commence in 1995. 
7.2. 
7.3. Schedule of commitment appropriations (CA) and payment 
appropriations (PA) 
Item B3-4310 
The appropriations allocated for this action will be determined 
annually on the basis of availability and the appropriations set 
aside under the budget procedure for actions covered by this item 
The total amount considered necessary for 1993 is ECU 250 000. 
From 1994 the appropriations allocated will develop in proportion 
to those allocated for all the actions covered by item B3-4310. 
Item A 2510 
CA (ECU) PA (ECU) 
1993 
1994 20 000 20 000 
1995 30 000 30 000 
1996 30 000 30 000 
1997 30 000 30 000 
110 000 110 000 
Item A 2531 
8. FRAUD PREVENTION 
Not appi icab le - Cl-
CA (ECU) PA (ECU) 
1993 
1994 
1995 12 000 12 000 
1996 12 000. 12 000 
1997 12 000 12 000 
36 000 36 000 
SECTION 2: ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
1. STAFF REQUIRED TO WORK EXCLUSIVELY ON THE ACTION 
From 1993, one full-time grade A official, one full-time grade B 
official and one full-time grade C official. 
These staff will either be obtained through internal redeployment, 
or will be provided for in the Commission's resource planning. 
2. STAFF COSTS REQUIRED 
Expenditure for the staff requested in paragraph 1 is estimated at 
ECU 240 000 per year from 1993 onwards. This will be covered by 
appropriations under Part A of Section ill of the General Budget. 
• 6tf -
SECTION 3: COST-EFFECT ANALYSIS 
1. AIMS AND COMPATIBILITY WITH FINANCIAL PLANNING 
1.1. Specific objective of the proposed action 
Implementation of the proposal for a Directive. 
1.2. Is the action covered in the DCs financial planning for 
the years in question? 
Yes. 
1.3. Corresponding general objective in the DG's financial 
planning 
Health and safety at work. 
2. JUSTIFICATION OF THE ACTION 
a) Cost 
The cost is much the same as that of similar actions relating 
to other proposals for Directives. Only the expenditure under 
item B3-4310 (ECU 250 000 in 1993) is slightly higher because 
of the technical nature of the field in question. 
_GS -
b) Secondary effects 
The proposal for a Directive is intended to reverse the 
traditional approach to safety where vessel safety comes before 
the safety of the crew, unless the vessel is in danger, in 
which case the safety of the emergency equipment is considered; 
now, instead, the safety of the men at work is to be put before 
the safety of the vessel, since the vessel is actually the 
capital of the owner (on which he usually receives a return of 
50-65% of the catch sale). Measures to improve vessel safety 
could therefore be put in a different category from those 
designed to improve crew safety. 
c) Multiplicator effects 
There may be multiplicator effects in the Member States along 
the same lines as the secondary effects described above. 
3. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE ACTION 
3.1. Not appiicab le. 
3.2. Not appiicab le. 
3.3. Not appiicable. 
, Ce -
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM 
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL ON SMEs 
**************** 
Ti»le of proposal: 
Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the minimum health and 
safety requirements for work on board fishing vessels. 
Reference No: 349.1 
The proposal 
1) Justification of the proposal with regard to the principle of 
subsidiarity - Main objectives 
a) Existing national legislation on health and safety on board 
fishing vessels has all been transposed from a small number of 
conventions or other instruments drawn up by international 
organizations. An analysis of the national legislations of the 
different Member States shows that there are fairly major 
discrepancies. In addition, most of the legislation makes 
little or no provision for occupational safety on board, 
concentrating instead on vessel safety, safe navigation and 
emergency escape equipment. Accident statistics for the 
Community show that half of all fatal accidents in the fishing 
industry are occupational accidents. 
b) Now that workers have freedom of movement, they must be 
guaranteed equal protection on vessels from different 
countries. Yet much of the legislation in a number of Member 
States does not cover small vessels. 
c) Accident statistics show that, of all the major industries, sea 
fishing is the most dangerous, with on average ten times more 
fatal accidents than other high-risk sectors such as mining, 
construction and agriculture. The statistics also show that 
there is a higher incidence of accidents on small vessels. 
Impact on business 
2) Firms affected 
a) All firms operating fishing vessels overl2m long (in practice 
all vessels operated by more than one person) will be affected. 
b) Sizes of business: 
see Annex 1. 
Almost all fishing firms can be classified as SMEs. 
c) Geographical distribution: 
The whole of the Community's coastline, but more especially the 
Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsula, Brittany and the 
English Channel, North Sea and Adriatic coasts. 
3) Requirements for firms 
New vessels must comply with all, and older vessels with some, of 
the minimum requirements; older vessels undergoing subsequent 
alterations must comply with the minimum requirements applicable to 
new vessels. These requirements relaie to factors such as solidity 
and stability, electrical installations, ventilation, emergency 
escape routes, workstation design, etc. 
The Directive also requires detailed reports to be forwarded to the 
maritime authorities on any occurrences at sea which affect the 
health and safety of the fishermen; owners must fulfil certain 
requirements relating to technical maintenance and cleaning; 
fishermen must be consulted about and given information and 
suitable training on health and safety on board vessels, and any 
person likely to command a vessel must be given detailed training 
on health and safety conditions. 
4) What economic effects is the proposal likely to have? 
On employment 
The Directive will not come into force until 1 January 1995, and it is 
difficult to anticipate the impact it may have on employment at that 
time. Since 1983 the European Community has pursued a policy of 
voluntarily reducing fishing capacity in line with the resources 
available (catch quotas for different countries and fishing zones), and 
this will be reflected over the next few years in the disappearance of 
a considerable proportion of the fishing fleet. 
Multiannua I guidance programmes (MGPs) 
First MGP 1987-1991 
Ob ject ive: Overall reduction of 3% in gross register tonnage (GRT) and 
2% in engine capacity (KW) 
tf9-
Second MGP 1992-1996 
The objectives will not be defined in detail until the end of 1991, but 
they will probably include a minimum reduction of 10% in engine 
capacity by the end of 1996, especially as not all the reductions 
scheduled under the first programme have been implemented in practice. 
Whatever the case may be, the Directive will have considerably less 
effect on employment than the policy of reducing capacity, particularly 
since the first vessels to go will be the oldest and therefore those 
which are furthest from complying with the safety requirements laid 
down in the Directive. 
The Directive itself would affect employment only if it proved 
necessary to take other vessels out of service because they could not 
be adapted. This is considered highly unlikely. 
On investment and competitiveness 
Figures supplied by representatives of the Member States indicate that 
the extra cost involved could be 3-5% of the value of a new vessel, but 
up to 15% of the market value of older vessels. Soundproofing will 
account for most of the extra cost for new vessels. 
However, the extra expenditure required will be largely offset by lower 
operating costs resulting from improved safety on board. The few 
fishing firms which have tried to improve safety on board over the last 
few years have found that their position has improved against their 
immediate competitors. 
-•sfo — 
A further consideration is that the direct and indirect cost of 
maritime accidents is very high. In the United Kingdom the cost of 
locating and rescuing fishing vessels at sea alone is the equivalent of 
2% of the catch value. 
To make it easier to adapt fishing vessels which have already been 
commissioned, there is a transition period of three years from the date 
on which the provisions of the Directive enter into force for new 
vessels. 
5) The proposal does not contain any specific provisions on SMEs since 
these make up most of the sector. 
Consultât ion 
6) List of organizations consulted 
a) Joint Committee on Social Problems in Sea Fishing. 
Generally favourable reaction, with certain reservations on the 
part of the owners. The Committee's observations were taken 
into account in drafting the proposal. 
b) Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at 
Work (tripartite: government representatives, employers and 
workers): generally favourable opinion. The Committee's 
observations were taken into account in drafting the proposal. 
In both cases reservations were expressed about the fact that the 
proposal does not cover self-employed workers, which legal grounds 
relating to Article 118a and the framework Directive had ruled out. 
Some owners would have preferred the Directive to cover vessels over 
13.5 m or 15 m only. 
DISTRIBUTION OF FLEETS BY VESSEL SIZE 1986 
COUNTRY 
SIZE in metres 
9 - 11.9 m 
12 - 17.9 m 
18 - 23.9 m 
24 - 29.9 m 
30 - 35.9 m 
36 - 41.9 m 
42 m and + FRG 
107 
328 
84 
83 
25 
2 
17 
Total concerned 646 
I FRANCE 
2676 
1242 
520 
125 
72 
17 
90 
4742 ITALY 
3251 
2996 
1448 
560 
140 
14 
64 
8473 NETHERLANDS 
30 
126 
165 
173 
187 
146 
37 
869 BELGIUM 
2 
29 
63 
59 
46 
8 
0 
207 DENMARK 
652 
1006 
389 
110 
140 
68 
23 
2388 SPAIN 
16 
1487 
1117 
566 
279 
96 
170 
3731 21056 
0.33 1 
0 - 8.9 m 
Length unknown 
Overall total 281 
2 
929 9227 
10 
13979 17661 
1083 
27217 55 
135 
1059 0 
0 
207 482 
384 
3254 0 
11552 
15283 63967 
Source: EUROSTAT. FISH series, May 1991 
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF FLEETS BY VESSEL SIZE 1986 
COUNTRY 
SIZE in metres 
9 - 11.9 m 
12 - 17.9 m 
18 - 23.9 m 
24 - 29.9 m 
30 - 35.9 m 
36 - 41.9 m 
42 m and + 
Total % concerned FRG 
11.52% 
35.31% 
9.04% 
8.93% 
2.69% 
0.22% 
1.83% 
69.54% FRANCE 
19.14% 
8.88% 
3.72% 
0.89% 
0.52% 
0.12% 
0.64% 
33.92% ITALY 
11.94% 
11.01% 
5.32% 
2.06% 
0.51% 
0.05% 
0.24% 
31.13% NETHERLANDS 
2.83% 
11.90% 
15.58% 
16.81% 
17.66% 
13.79% 
3.49% 
82.06% BELGIUM 
0.97% 
14.01% 
30.43% 
28.50% 
22.22% 
3.86% 
0.00% 
100.00% DENMARK 
20.04% 
30.92% 
11.95% 
3.38% 
4.30% 
2.09% 
0.71% 
73.39% SPAIN 
0.10% 
9.73% 
7.31% 
3.70% 
1.83% 
0.63% 
1.11% 
24.41% \ 
0 - 8.9 m 
Length unknown 
Overall total 30.25% 
0.22% 
100.00% 66.01% 
0.07% 
100.00% 64.89% 
3.98% 
100.00% 5.19% 
12.75% 
100.00% 0.00% 
0.00% 
100.00% 14.81% 
11.80% 
100.00% 0.00% 
75.59% 
100.00% 
Source: EUROSTAT, FISH series, May 1991 
FIGURES FOR THE EC FISHING INDUSTRY 
COUNTRY 
DENMARK 
IRELAND 
FRG 
UNITED KINGDOM 
FRANCE 
PORTUGAL 
SPAIN 
NETHERLANDS 
BELGIUM 
GREECE 
ITALY 
EC CATCH LANDED 
of which of which 
Tonnes factory ECU factory 
ships mi 11 ion ships 
1868000 1470000 452 
213000 13000 96 
169000 37000 119 
664000 578 
834000 63000 1211 
331000 9000 312 
1000000 1500 
450000 350 
30000 1000 70 
147000 429 
365000 1254 
6071000 6371 FLEET 
of which 
Units GRT 
6605 123600 
1600 41000 
719 60000 
8293 168439 
19227 205016 
8816 188064 
14418 421401 
1076 171626 
205 25445 
15600 181109 
25977 283624 
102608 1869324 SEAMEN 
of which 
Number full-t ime 
7317 
7000 3100 
3091 1898 
22217 16976 
19000 
40996 
93500 
4000 
1271 1271 
40164 28114 
54450 
293006 Ratios per seaman 
Catch 
va Iue GRT 
(ECU 1000) 
61774 16.89 
13714 5.86 
38499 19.41 
26016 7.58 
63737 10.79 
7610 4.59 
16043 4.51 
87500 42.91 
55075 20.02 
10681 4.51 
23030 5.21 
21744 6.38 
Source: EC - DATA ROOM DG XIV. June 1991 
1989 except where stated (cf. below for corresponding columns) 
DENMARK 
IRELAND 
FRG 
UNITED KINGDOM 
FRANCE 
PORTUGAL 
SPAIN 
NETHERLANDS 
GREECE 
ITALY 1988 
1988 
1986 
1986 1988 
1988 1988 
1988 
1986 
1986 
1986 1986 
1986 
1986 
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ISSN 0254-1475 
COM (91)466 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 04 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-512-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-77546-7 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
Lr2985 Luxembourg