WRITTEN QUESTION E-3763/02 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Safety of shipping.
Date: 2002-12-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Ireland, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, maritime safety, maritime shipping, prevention of pollution, transport regulations, transport statistics

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/139

Figures obtained from the international databases (including the Lloyds Register/Fairplay database of oil
tankers (3) of more than 5 000 tonnes deadweight at mooring) show that over 2 000 single hull tankers
built before 1995 are still sailing. The bulk of these are ships of less than 20 000 tonnes.

(1) COM(2002) 681 final.
(2) COM(2002) 780 final.
(3) Oil tankers: tankers as defined by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) (cf. International Convention for

the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol)).

(2003/C 161 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3763/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 December 2002)

Subject: Safety of shipping

A study by the Paris MOU concerning port state control highlights the chaotic situation in the European
Union. For example, while Italy inspects almost one in every two ships which pass through its ports,
France inspects only one in ten. Moreover, the latter has played a leading role in the movement to bar
single-hull tankers over 15 years old from the economic exclusion zone.

What measures will the Commission take, therefore, to harmonise port state control of vessels in order to
improve the safety of shipping?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2003)

As the Honourable Member has noted, the annual statistics published by the Secretariat of the Paris
Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control show major disparities in inspection rates between
States. However, this does not mean that the situation is chaotic.

The rules on port State control were harmonised at Community level by 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 (1).

This Directive was reinforced following the Erika accident,
inter alia by introducing a procedure for
banning ships which have been detained on several occasions over the previous two or three years and
which appear on the ‘black list’ of flags with a higher than average number of detentions. These changes to
Directive 95/21/EC will enter into force at the end of July 2003.

The Commission attaches particular importance to compliance with the rules on port State control, and
has reminded the Member States several times of their obligations in this area, most recently in its
communication of 3 December 2002 (2). It has urged them to recruit enough inspectors to check at least
25 % of ships, as required by the Directive. It has also asked them to achieve a sufficient level of inspection
in all their ports and anchorage areas to prevent them becoming ‘ports of convenience’.

Within the limits of its jurisdiction, the Commission intends to use all legal means to ensure the strict
application of the aforementioned rules. Accordingly, it has instituted proceedings before the Court of
Justice against France and Ireland for failure to meet the 25 % inspection requirement.

(1) OJ L 157, 7.7.1995.
(2) COM(2002) 681 final.