Brussels, 20/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU member states will have to comply with international law on standards of training and working conditions for seafarers. As it nears the end of its term of office, the Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers managed to achieve an agreement on this issue in trialogue negotiations on Tuesday 19 June. The agreement provides for transposition into EU law of the latest amendments by the International Maritime Organisation to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW). This will mean more complete training, health tests and new arrangements on rest times. The new rules also bring in blood-alcohol limits for seafarers. The European Parliament still has to give its approval to the move in plenary session and the Coreper is expected to give its backing next week, before a ministerial Council can adopt the agreement as an A agenda point.
Speaking on behalf of the Danish Presidency, Danish Trade and Growth Minister Ole Sohn said of the agreement: “The new regulations will help ensure that, also in the future, we have many skilled seafarers from European countries. Competent seafarers are decisive for our ability to retain our competiveness in the maritime field”. (MD/transl.rt)