A4-0152/97

Proposal for a Council Directive on the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships (COM(96)0574 - C4-0029/97 - 96/0281(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas progress in the safety of maritime transport of passengers has been limited in the ten years since the accident of the passenger ferry 'Herald of Free Enterprise¨ on 6 March 1987, which caused the loss of 191 lives;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 1b (new)

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Whereas the lack of political will to improve the safety aspects of maritime transport and the shelving 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 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

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)

Recital 3b (new)

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Whereas safety standards for the design and building of Ro-Ro vessels could be considered, in line with the international requirements, in the context of further measures to improve the safety of passenger vessels;

(Amendment 5)

Article 1a (new)

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Article 1a

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

(Amendment 6)

Article 2, 3rd indent a (new)

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- 'seagoing passenger ship¨ means a ship other than those which navigate exclusively in inland waters or in waters within or adjacent to sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply,

(Amendment 7)

Article 3(1), introduction

>Original text>

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

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1. This Directive shall apply to all 'under sea' rail tunnels involving car shuttle journeys of more than twenty miles and to passenger ships with the exception of:

(Amendment 8)

Article 6

>Original text>

The following information shall be recorded for all passenger ships departing from a port located in a Member State and undertaking voyages of more than 20 miles from the point of departure:

>Text following EP vote>

The following information shall be recorded for all passenger ships departing 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 20 miles:

>Original text>

- the names of the persons on board,

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- the names of the persons on board,

>Original text>

- the first name or initial,

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- the first name,

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- the gender,

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- the gender,

>Original text>

- an indication about the age category (adult, child or infant) to which the person belongs,

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- the age,

>Original text>

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

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

>Original text>

This information shall be communicated not later than 30 minutes after departure of the passenger ship to the designated person of the company.

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The master shall ensure that this information, together with the number of persons on board prior to departure, is communicated to the person designated by the company.

(Amendment 9)

Article 6a (new)

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Article 6a

Where the ship's normal journey time between two ports is estimated to be less than two hours or the distance between them is less than 20 miles the master shall ensure that the number of persons on board has been communicated to the person designated by the company.

(Amendment 10)

Article 8, introduction

>Original text>

All companies assuming the responsibility for operating a passenger ship referred to in Article 3 shall:

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All companies assuming the responsibility for operating a passenger ship or an 'under sea¨ rail tunnel referred to in Article 3 shall:

(Amendment 11)

Article 8, second paragraph

>Original text>

The company shall ensure that information required by this Directive is immediately transmitted to the designated authority or can at all times be made readily available to this authority. The information shall not be kept longer than necessary for the purpose of this Directive and as a general rule shall be deleted as soon as the ship's voyage in question has been safely completed.

>Text following EP vote>

The company shall ensure that the information required by this Directive can at all times be made readily available to the designated authority. The information shall not be kept longer than necessary for the purpose of this Directive and as a general rule shall be deleted as soon as the ship's voyage in question has been safely completed.

(Amendment 12)

Article 9(1)

>Original text>

1. A Member State from whose port a passenger ship departs may lower the 20 mile threshold mentioned in Article 6.

>Text following EP vote>

1. A Member State from whose port a passenger ship departs may lower the two hour or 20 mile threshold mentioned in Article 6.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships (COM(96)0574 - C4-0029/97 - 96/0281(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0574 - 96/0281(SYN) ((OJ C 31, 31.1.1997, p. 5.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 84(2) of the EC Treaty (C4-0029/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0152/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.