EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/742

(2004/C 84 E/0838)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3924/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Seaworthiness of the Geroi Sevastopolya

The Russian single-hulled vessel, the Geroi Sevastopolya, has set sail from the Latvian port of Ventspils with 55 000 tonnes of fuel similar to the kind the Prestige was carrying. According to information published in the media, the 24-year-old tanker is not in the best condition for sailing, obliging the Commission to send inspectors to Latvia, as a preventative measure, to examine its state of repair.

Given the current sensitivity in Europe over maritime safety and the damage to the marine environment:

— Can the Commission state what kind of inspections the Geroi Sevastopolya was subject to?

— Can the Commission confirm that the vessel was transporting 55 000 tonnes of fuel similar to that aboard the Prestige?

— Does the Commission not consider that the three Baltic acceding countries should begin to bring their legislation on maritime safety in line with that in force in the EU earlier than 1 May 2004?

— Can the Commission provide information about the differences in legislation between the accession countries and the present Member States?

— Can the Commission provide information about Maltese and Cypriot legislation regarding the registration of vessels and state whether those countries' laws meet Community standards?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The Erika and Prestige accidents highlighted the disastrous consequences that major fuel oil spills have for the environment and for coastal economies. Against this background, the Commission's attention was drawn to the case of the Russian single-hulled tanker Geroi Sevastopolya, which was due to leave the Latvian port of Ventspils bound for Singapore, carrying around 50 000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil along the coasts of Europe on its way.

At the Commission's initiative, a team of inspectors from several EU countries, coordinated by the European Maritime Safety Agency, inspected the vessel before it set sail from Ventspils. The inspectors found no grounds warranting detention of the vessel by the Latvian authorities.

It should be added that the Commission reacted very swiftly following the Prestige accident, its first proposals being designed precisely to prohibit heavy fuel oil being carried in such vessels. These measures were adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, and since 21 October 2003 no single-hulled oil tanker carrying heavy fuel oil has been allowed to enter or leave an EU port.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that it is important that these measures be applied early by all the accession States, and made this point to the Ministers at the Transport Council of 5 December 2003, inviting them to the necessary steps as quickly as possible to stop allowing single-hulled vessels carrying heavy fuel oil into their ports.

As for differences in legislation between the accession countries and the current Member States, the framework legislation of the accession States is in place and it is in line with the Community acquis. However, the accession countries still need to finalise their adoption of the most recent measures, such as the ‘Erika’ I and II packages.

With more specific regard to Malta and Cyprus, the regulatory framework in these countries regarding flags is, as indicated above, not yet fully in line with the Community acquis. However, the Maltese and Cypriot flags have undertaken to step up their efforts to be removed as soon as possible from the blacklist of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. In accordance with Article 211 of the EC Treaty, as of 1 May 2004 the Commission will ensure that these States apply Community law properly.