A4-0068/98

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Council Directive on the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships operating to or from ports of the Member States of the Community (C4-0620/97 - 96/0281(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0620/97 - 96/0281(SYN) ((OJ C 23, 23.1.1998, p. 17.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 182, 16.6.1997, p. 34.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0574 ((OJ C 31, 31.1.1997, p. 5.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0068/98),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 2

>Original text>

2. Whereas the Community is seriously concerned by shipping accidents involving passenger ships which have resulted in massive loss of life, particularly those involving the 'Herald of Free Enterprise¨ and the 'Estonia¨; whereas persons using passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft throughout the Community have the right to expect and to be able to rely on an appropriate level of safety and upon an adequate information system which will facilitate search and rescue and the efficient handling of the aftermath of any accident that might occur;

>Text following EP vote>

2.

Whereas the Community is seriously concerned by the limited progress in the safety of maritime transport of passengers in the eleven years since the accidents of the passenger ferries 'Herald of Free Enterprise¨ on 6 March 1987, which caused the loss of 191 lives, and the 'Estonia¨ on 28 September 1994; whereas persons using passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft throughout the Community have the right to expect and to be able to rely on an appropriate level of safety and an adequate information system which will facilitate search and rescue and the efficient handling of the aftermath of any accident that might occur;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2a. Whereas the lack of political will to improve the safety aspects of maritime transport and the setting aside of the recommendations included in the Sheen report, drawn up in the aftermath of the 'Herald of Free Enterprise¨ disaster, have resulted in the continuation of this unsatisfactory situation;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 8a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

8a. Whereas safety standards for the design and building of Ro-Ro passenger vessels, including watertight bulkheads and sponsons, are required urgently and must be included in future measures to improve safety at sea;

(Amendment 4)

Article 1a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

This Directive shall also apply to all 'under sea' rail tunnels involving car shuttle journeys in excess of twenty miles.

(Amendment 5)

Article 3, introduction

>Original text>

This Directive shall apply to passenger ships with the exception of:

>Text following EP vote>

This Directive shall apply to passenger ships with the exception of:

(Amendment 6)

Article 5

>Original text>

1. The following information shall be recorded regarding every passenger ship that departs from a port located in a Member State to undertake a voyage of more than twenty miles from the point of departure:

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The following information shall be recorded regarding every passenger ship that departs from a port located in a Member State if the normal journey time is estimated to be at least two hours or if the distance between the two ports is at least twenty miles:

>Original text>

- the family names of the persons on board;

- their forenames or initials;

- their sex;

- an indication of the category of age (adult, child or infant) to which each person belongs, or the age, or the year of birth;

- when volunteered by a passenger, information concerning the need for special care or assistance in emergency situations.

>Text following EP vote>

-

the family names of the persons on board;

- their forenames or initials;

- their sex;

- an indication of the category of age (adult, child or infant) to which each person belongs, or the age, or the year of birth;

- when volunteered by a passenger, information concerning the need for special care or assistance in emergency situations.

>Original text>

2. That information shall be collected before departure and communicated not later than thirty minutes after the passenger ship's departure to the company's passenger registrar or to a shore-based company system that performs the same function

>Text following EP vote>

2.

That information shall be communicatedbefore the passenger ship's departure to the company's passenger registrar or to a shore-based company system that performs the same function.

(Amendment 8)

Article 9(1), first subparagraph

>Original text>

1. A Member State from whose port a passenger ship departs may lower the twenty- mile threshold mentioned in Article 5.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

A Member State from whose post a passenger ship departs may lower the two hour or twenty-mile threshold mentioned in Article 5.