WRITTEN QUESTION E-3637/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Making the standard of ship's inspections independent of free competition between classification societies.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community certification, free competition, maritime safety, roadworthiness tests, safety standard, transport accident, vessel

C 261 E/2

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

(2001/C 261 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/00

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Light pollution

(cid:145)Light pollution(cid:146) is caused by stray light that escapes from residential and industrial developments, prevents
city dwellers from seeing the night sky and increases global warming. The use of lower powered bulbs and
shields to prevent this light from escaping would reduce CO2 emissions and give a better view of the stars.
Is the Commission planning to take any legislative measures to prevent light pollution?

Supplementary answer
given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2001)

The Commission has no plans at this time to take any legislative measures regarding light pollution.

(2001/C 261 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3637/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Making the standard of ship(cid:146)s inspections independent of free competition between classification

societies

1.
Can the Commission confirm that, together with the (cid:145)Erika(cid:146) which was lost early this year, the tanker
(cid:145)Ievoli Sun(cid:146) which was lost off Alderney and Cap de la Hague on 30 October had satisfied the inspection
requirements for seaworthiness and safety laid down by one of the recognised private firms operating
internationally, the Italian classification society Rina?

2. Which Member States have opposed the Commission(cid:146)s proposed measures for tightening up
inspections of ships and preventing fresh disasters?

Does the Commission share my fear that the competitive struggle which classification societies are
3.
obliged to engage in, in order to acquire or retain shipping companies as customers, always mean that
they will be tempted to adopt a flexible approach towards shortcomings and, as a result, ships are given
provisional clearance pending repairs to be carried out at a later date?

4.
Does the Commission intend to draw up supplementary measures to ensure that the standard of
ship(cid:146)s inspection can no longer be influenced by the fact that it is dependent on competition between
classification societies, but is based on the most stringent standards possible?

Is the Commission prepared to propose placing such inspections in the hands of bodies operating
5.
under the responsibility of the European Union or national authorities, so that ships which are not
approved by such bodies can be denied access to European ports?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2001)

It is regrettable that another tanker vessel has been lost in severe weather off the French coast. There are,
however, considerable differences between the two accidents: the ERIKA broke in two because of structural
failure, the Ievoli Sun(cid:146)s hull structure appears to have remained intact. The Commission is carefully
following the investigations carried out by the Flag State, Italy, and the French authorities into the possible
causes of the latest accident.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/3

In reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s questions the following information can be given:

1. According to the information available to the Commision, RINA issued the relevant safety certificates,
on behalf of the Italian State, necessary to fulfil the requirements for seaworthiness as laid down by
International conventions.

2.

Following the recent Transport Council there is broad consensus among the Member States on the
proposal (1) to amend Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and
standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime
administrations (2).

3. and 4. The Commission shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Member and has introduced
proposals to strengthen the existing Directive in respect of surveillance and monitoring of safety and
pollution prevention performance of recognised organisations. A good performance record becomes
an unconditional criterion in order to receive and/or maintain recognition under the Directive.
Furthermore, should the performance of a recognised organisation start to deteriorate, amendments
have been introduce to give the Commission the power to warn, suspend for one year, or withdraw
recognition.

The Commission also suggests introducing the (cid:145)Transfer of Class rules(cid:146) in the proposal for amending
Council Directive 94/57/EC (3) which is aimed at preventing a shipowner from changing classification
society for safety reasons.

All these proposed amendments have been introduced in order to strengthen the surveillance of
recognised organisations and to force them to compete on quality in service to the highest possible
standards.

5. Yes. The Commission proposed the creation of a European Maritime Safety Agency, which will be a
technical body to, among other tasks, assist the Commission in the surveillance of classification
societies. As regards denied access, the Commission agrees with the objective of banning of vessels
which are manifestly substandard and has proposed measures for such banning in Article 7(a) in the
amended proposal (4) for Council Directive 95/21/EC of 19 June 1995 concerning the enforcement, in
respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the
Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living
and working conditions (port State control) (5).

(1) OJ C 212 E, 25.7.2000.
(2) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(3) OJ L 48, 3.3.1995.
(4) COM(2000) 850 final.
(5) OJ L 157, 7.7.1995.

(2001/C 261 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3646/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 November 2000)

Subject: Biological sewage works on Levkada

There is a sewage works operating in Levkada which is located within a biotope. The effluent is released in
the Diaulos area. The communities in the north-east of the island are directly affected and for five years the
sea area north-east of the island has suffered irreparable pollution.

In the original studies for the town sewage system, the effluent was to be discharged into the Ionian Sea.
Once local leaders became aware of the problem, the Ministry of the Environment, Public Works and
Regional Planning and the Ministry of Internal Affairs by joint ministerial decree of 19 December 1995