WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Recognition of the Hellenic Register of Shipping (HRS)

In its answer to my question No E-2339/99(1), the Commission states that At the time of the inspection, HRS had only 941 ocean-going vessels over 100 GT in its class and 60 exclusive surveyors. Following a different calculation method suggested by HRS, the number of exclusive surveyors would be 86, still not meeting the figure of 100 required by the Directive and that On 22 April 1998 HRS was recognised pursuant to Article 4(3) of the Directive for a period of three years during which HRS can only work on behalf of the Greek administration.

Having now been assessed by the relevant European Union committee and pursuant to a Commission Decision of 13 December 2001, the HRS has been recognised as the organisation responsible for ship inspection and survey for a three-year period in Greece alone, since it fulfils the solely qualitative criteria of Directive 94/57/EC(2) on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations.

Can the Commission say why recognition of the HRS is again confined to Greece alone? What are the results of the assessment of the HRS? Does the Commission consider the results of the quality assessment to be satisfactory? In which ways does the HRS fall short of the quantitative criteria

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2002)

The recognition of the Hellenic Register of Shipping (HRS) is limited to Greece, according to the provisions of Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organizations and for the relevant activities of maritime organisations(1). This recognition is valid for a period of three years from the 13 December 2001, and was given following a specific request of the Greek Ministry of Mercantile Maríne, and after assessments carried out by the Commission and a positive opinion of the corresponding Committee of Member States representatives.

The assessments carried out by the Commission verified that HRS meets all the criteria of Directive 94/57/EC. However, as concerns the quantitative criteria set out under paragraphs 2 and 3 of the section General of the Annex, which foresee that, in order to be granted a full recognition, a classification society must have in its class a fleet of at least 1 000 ocean-going vessels and must employ a technical staff of, as a minimum, 100 exclusive surveyors, they were not met by HRS. During the assessments of HRS mentioned above, it was ascertained that the number of ocean-going vessels in the HRS classed fleet is of 349 and that the number of exclusive surveyors employed by HRS is of 68. When considering all the recognised organisations, this is one of the best ratio tonnage in class per surveyor, but this is not enough to allow a full recognition.

The recognition of HRS is therefore limited to Greece since HRS does not meet the quantitative criteria of the Annex to the Directive. However, taking into consideration the fact that HRS meets all the qualitative criteria of the Directive, this organisation could work on behalf of any other administrations of the Member States that might decide to put forward a similar request to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.