Brussels, 10/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 6 September, during an exchange of views with European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Executive Director, Markku Mylly, current events came to the fore at the European Parliament's transport committee (TRAN). Recalling the accident involving the MSC Flaminia cargo ship, MEPs emphasised the important task it was for the European Commission to review maritime rules for emergency intervention and rescue.
New director. Mylly is the new director at EMSA and takes over from Mr De Ruyter. He began his role last June in Lisbon and was given a hearing by the TRAN committee. He affirmed that the major challenge in his mandate involved, “implementing the review of the basic EMSA regulation”. This effectively provides European agencies with broader powers. Could these competencies in the future be further expanded to emergency rescue operations during accidents at sea? In reference to the MSC Flaminia accident, the EP would not be opposed to this.
MSC Flaminia. MEPs were unable to remain silent about this accident that occurred last July off the British coast. The cargo ship was transporting chemicals and was the scene of an explosion and fire on the high seas, which resulted in one person being killed and another injured. It was left stranded in the channel for almost two months, the time needed for obtaining the necessary green lights for it to be towed to its final destination in northern Germany.
Unacceptable situation. The president of the TRAN Committee, Brian Simpson (S&D, United Kingdom), said that the MSC Flaminia situation was unacceptable and the member states had washed their hands of the matter instead of helping a ship in distress. Gésine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) said that, “neighbourhood assistance does not appear to have worked… are our current directives sufficiently effective for taking action when accidents occur at sea?” Several MEPs were of the opinion that EMSA's remit should be enhanced in order to organise emergency operations in the event of accidents.
Urgent proposals. Simpson subsequently declared that the Commission should speed up revision of existing rules, although new proposals on maritime safety are expected for the end of the year. Mylly did not refer to the role of the agency during the Flaminia accident but did say that EMSA could support the Commission and do everything possible to improve legislation for application when situations of this kind arose. (MD/trans/fl)