WRITTEN QUESTION P-3238/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Subject: Higher safety standards for car ferries and the Stockhom Agreement

Following the disasters at sea during the 1990s and negotiations within the International Maritime Organisation, the SOLAS Convention was amended in regard to the stability of car ferries. In 1996, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK signed an agreement laying down more stringent stability requirements in the event of vessels taking in water. In the light of the fact that the Stockholm Agreement lays down more stringent safety standards for car ferries than Directive 98/18(1), will the Commission harmonise vessel safety regulations at the higher level?

(1) OJ L 144, 15.5.1998, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 2000)

The Stockholm agreement (SA), mentioned by the Honourable Member, was established in the context of Resolution 14 of the 1995 Safety of life at sea (SOLAS) Conference, allowing contracting governments to conclude such an agreement if they consider that prevailing sea and weather conditions require specific stability requirements for roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) passenger ships in a designated area. It is presently applied by Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Norway.

Directive 98/18/CE of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships, introduced, in line with the revised SOLAS Convention, specific safety rules and standards for passenger ships regarding stability and also fire protection and life saving appliances. Taking into consideration the SA, Article 7 of the Directive authorises a Member State or a group of Member States to apply higher safety standards taking into account the specific local circumstances, following notification to the Commission.

Furthermore Council Directive 1999/35/CE of 29 April 1999 on a system of mandatory surveys for the safe operation of regular ro-ro ferry and high-speed passenger craft services(1), made mandatory the application of the SA for all services to and from ports in the area covered by the agreement.

At the time of the conclusion of the Stockholm agreement, the Commission issued a statement noting its regional application and expressing the opinion that the same level of safety should be ensured for all ro-ro passenger vessels operating in similar conditions. It also announced its intention to examine the prevailing local conditions, environmental and operational under which ro-ro passenger ferries sail in all European waters. The statement concluded that in the light of the examination the Commission would take a decision with regard to the need for further initiatives.

In December 1999, the Commission contracted a study to examine the implementation of the SA and to produce a survey of the prevailing sea and weather conditions in the European waters not covered by the agreement. The study is due for completion before the end of this year and its results will be taken into consideration by the Commission in its further initiatives relating to the safety of ro-ro passenger vessels.

The above is also in line with the statement made by the Commission on 5 October 2000, during the debate on the Parliament resolutions B5-0783, 0787 and 0791/2000, regarding its intention to re-examine in the course of 2001 the safety rules covered by Directive 98/18/CE.

(1) OJ L 138, 1.6.1999.