WRITTEN QUESTION E-1039/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Deaths of Galician seafarers in accidents at sea and European Union policy against marine accidents

The deaths of Galician seamen in accidents at sea provide tragic evidence of the unavoidable need for urgent action to bring about a drastic reduction in the dreadful accidents affecting Community fleets in general. Three hundred Galician fishermen have lost their lives in the past decade 80 % of the total number of such deaths for the whole of Spain and there have already been tragic accidents involving the Galician fleet in 2001, such as those which occurred off Lisbon in January, in which seven Galician seamen died, and more recently in Scottish waters, which claimed the lives of a further six seamen.

Leaving aside the harsh working conditions faced at sea, experience shows that accidents and deaths are largely due to the lack of safety equipment, which should be covered by legal instruments and required by both the European Union and the Member States.

What urgent measures will the Commission introduce to prevent the tragic deaths of seamen?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member's concern about the occupational accident situation at sea, particularly with regard to the deaths of the Galician seamen.

It would like to emphasise the fact that since 1989 a substantial amount of Community legislation has been adopted, covering both measures to promote improvements to the safety and health of workers at work and the safety of fishing vessels.

Legislation intended to help improve health and safety conditions for workers and reduce work accidents and occupational diseases consists of the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work(1) and the following individual directives: Council Directive 93/103/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for work on board fishing vessels(2); Council Directive 90/269/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly of back injury to workers(3); Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work(4) as amended by Council Directive 95/63/EC of 5 December 1995(5); Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace(9); and Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels(6).

With regard to the safety of fishing vessels, Council Directive 97/70/EC of 11 December 1997(7), as amended by Commission Directive 1999/19/EC of 18 March 1999(8), sets up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over. This Directive is based on the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 (Article 3(4)), but extends its scope, as the Protocol only applies to vessels of 45 metres and over. The Directive provides for the inspection of fishing vessels by the flag State, for the purpose of issuing certificates of compliance, in accordance with Article 6 of the Directive. Port State control inspections of fishing vessels are also provided for in accordance with Article 7 of the Directive, which refers to Article 4 of the Torremolinos Protocol.

This latter provision therefore allows for the inspection of a vessel flying the flag of one Member State while in the port of another Member State.

The utmost importance attributed by the Commission to maritime safety in general is manifested by the presentation of six specific proposals in the course of the year 2000 known as ERIKA I and ERIKA II packages currently under discussion at the Council and Parliament. Once adopted, these measures will contribute to safer shipping and cleaner seas.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.

(3) OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.

(4) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.

(5) OJ L 335, 30.12.1995.

(6) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.

(7) OJ L 34, 9.2.1998.

(8) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.

(9) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.