WRITTEN QUESTION E-2419/00 by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission. Safety of sea shipping.
Date: 2000-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competence of the Member States, crew, maritime law, maritime safety, occupational safety, working conditions

C 136 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

Lastly, as far as the possibility of setting up a network of sites of cultural and historic interest throughout
the Community is concerned, the Culture 2000 cultural cooperation programme, adopted by the European
institutions for the period 2000-2004, provides for support for cooperation projects in the area of cultural
heritage, inter alia support for projects to conserve and protect exceptional cultural heritage that can be
described as (cid:145)European heritage laboratories(cid:146).

(1) OJ L 21, 28.1.1975.

(2001/C 136 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2419/00

by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Subject: Safety of sea shipping

In breach of the provisions of the SOLAS 74 Convention for ships built before 1995 and Presidential
Decrees 432/91 and 156/73, the Italian Ministry for Transport and Shipping has not only allowed radio
rooms to be shut down, seriously undermining the privacy and safety of radio operators, but has also
permitted radio posts to be set up on the bridge of passenger ships, ferries and merchant ships.

In addition, for some passenger ships, ferries and merchant ships, the maritime authority has abolished the
RT GMDSS/GOC officer without any form of replacement and without introducing a safety equipment
table, while at the same time assigning responsibility for the radio service to the deck officer who is
required to fulfil this function during his watch with passengers and crew members on the bridge, in
breach of the rules on this matter and with only a five-day course as preparation.

Lastly, international, European Union and national laws do not allow a sovereign state to grant derogations
and/or exemptions which result in reduced maritime safety or a danger to the safety of persons and goods.
The authorities responsible for this matter, which are aware of these failings, have a duty to adopt
additional preventive safety measures in order to avert any danger.

Will the Commission say what grounds might justify the above situation and what measures it intends to
take?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

It must be noted that the maritime radio communication issue is internationally regulated by the 1974
Solas Convention, the Radiocommunication regulation of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) and the 1978 Convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers
(STCW) as amended.

In accordance with the Solas Convention the traditional radio installations have been replaced, since
1 February 1999, with equipment complying with the international standards as set out in the global
maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS). The traditional post of radio officer may, in line with these
new rules, be taken over by another deck officer with the required qualifications.

There are no specific Community provisions on this aspect of the maritime radio communications issue.

The concrete questions of the Honourable Member are related to the implementation of the GMDSS and
this specific issue is solely the responsibility of the individual States, as contracting party of the Solas
Convention.