WRITTEN QUESTION E-1231/02 by Franz Turchi (UEN) to the Commission. Maritime mobile service.
Date: 2002-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: maritime safety, radio telecommunications, transport regulations

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/111

(2002/C 301 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1231/02

by Franz Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Subject: Maritime mobile service

The International Telecommunications Regulation (ITU 99)
that maritime mobile service
communications are to be made by means of short/medium-wave radiotelegraph apparatuses, MF/HF
radiotelephone apparatuses or VHF radiotelephone apparatuses.

states

The international frequencies (calling, help, emergency and security) for the maritime mobile service are:
Radiotelegraphy 500 Khz, Radiotelephony 2 182 Khz and Radiotelephony VHF CH 16 (156.8 Mhz).
Merchant passenger and goods vessels built before 1995 have, in accordance with the vessel fitting-out
plans, the following installations: radioelectric stations with two radiotelegraph receiver/transmitters (RTs;
one has a back-up role for the other), one radiotelephone MF/HF RT, one radiotelephone VMF RT, and one
radiotelegraph and radiotelephone RT installed on the lifeboat. All this is for purposes of safe navigation,
the protection of human life at sea, and communications of a general nature; the apparatuses serve to
ensure connections between the vessel and coastal stations or between the vessel and other vessels.

Since the installation of the GMDSS security systems, the administrations that are party to the SOLAS
Convention 74/83 no longer use the medium-wave 500 Khz radiotelegraphic equipment, and, therefore,
the radioelectric apparatuses used for safe navigation and the protection of human life are the DSC MF/HF
RT of the GMDSS system, the VHF DSC of the GMDSS system, the MF/HF RTF RT installed in the radio
room, the VHF RT installed in the radio room, and the RT installed on the lifeboat. Merchant passenger
and goods vessels built after 1995 have radioelectric stations installed pursuant to the GMDSS technical
rules. For the maritime mobile service, they have a single MF/HF DSC apparatus. This means that, should
this apparatus break down, it is impossible to guarantee safe navigation and the protection of human life,
frequency or the
is then unable to link to the international DSC calling/support
since the vessel
international calling/support 2 182 Khz frequency.

Does the Commission not consider
it desirable to propose a Community directive under which
administrations could oblige vessel owners to install two MF/HF RTF DSC RTs, one having a back-up
role for the other, with one feeding into the main electricity network and the other into a reserve energy
source (accumulators)?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 2002)

the maritime radiocommunication service is
At present, as the Honourable Member rightly states,
governed by the rules of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) adopted in November
1988 by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and in force since 1 February 1999.

This system aims to improve the maritime mobile service by remedying its shortcomings and adopting
new digital and space technologies. Radiotelegraphy (500 kilohertz (kHz)) has thus been abandoned in
favour of the mandatory use of digital selective calling (DSC) in the medium frequency (MF)/high frequency
(HF) and very high frequency (VHF) bands. In addition, use of the Inmarsat and Sarsat-Cospas satellite
services has been introduced.

Enhanced safety is the principle underlying the introduction of these new technologies. GMDSS should
enable any merchant passenger ship or freighter, regardless of its position, to contact any coastal station by
at least two different,
independent means using different radiocommunication services. Redundancy of
radiocommunication equipment appropriate to a vessel’s declared navigation area is therefore ensured.

C 301 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Consequently, if a merchant ship’s DSC MF/HF transmitter breaks down, it can communicate via another
equivalent on-board radiocommunication apparatus (e.g. an Inmarsat station or another DSC MF/HF
station), thereby guaranteeing the safety of shipping and safeguarding human life at sea.

In this light, the Commission does not intend to propose mandatory installation of two DSC MF/HF
transmitter-receivers.

(2002/C 301 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1232/02

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

(29 April 2002)

Subject: ERDF funding of rural cellular telephone access (TRAC) in Galicia

The Spanish Ministry of Government (Ministerio de la Presidencia) has issued a communication stating that
Spain has taken steps to improve the appalling conditions suffered by rural cellular telephone access
(TRAC) subscribers in Galicia, that the Commission had been made aware of the need to extend the
concept of universal service, and that this new Directive has finally incorporated the Spanish proposals.
The new European Parliament and Council Directive on universal service and users’ rights in relation to
electronic communications networks and services acknowledges that the replacement of TRAC facilities
shall remain guaranteed within the framework of universal service, once the national laws transposing the
Directive have come into force. Has the Spanish Government requested ERDF investment for replacing
rural cellular telephone access (TRAC) facilities in Galicia?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2002)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-0855/02 (1) on
the request of the Spanish authorities for financial support for the project in question. The Directive on
Universal Service (2) defines universal service as covering a range of specified services, including functional
Internet access, provided to subscribers at affordable prices. The directive is ‘technology neutral’ in the
sense that it does not require the use of any given technology to provide these services.

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 150.
(2) Directive 2002/22/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users’ rights

relating to electronic communications networks and services, OJ L 108, 24.4.2002.

(2002/C 301 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1242/02

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Project to protect the Poetto coastline in Sardinia (Italy)

(30 April 2002)

The Province of Cagliari is currently implementing a project to protect the Poetto coastline in the Cagliari
and Quartu S. Elena municipalities of Sardinia (Italy), on the basis of Ministry of the Interior Order
(civil protection) No 2878 of 20 October 1998 and with EUR 15 493 707 of Community funds from the
1994-1999 CSF. This project, which was approved by the relevant departments at their meeting of
30 August 1999, provides for an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC (1)
(decisions of environmental protection officials of the autonomous Region of Sardinia No 3152 of
9 November 1999 and No 1893/V of 21 September 2001). It also provides, in particular, for the building
of a new road along the Quartu S. Elena salt marshes, which will involve the complete removal of the
former coastal road, the rehabilitation of the dune system and pine-forest and the gradual refurbishment of
the Poetto beach over a period of two years, with 370 000 m3 of sand of the same type as that of that
beach.