Portugal has yet to put in place a quality management system for checking vessels and the competence of seafarers, according to the European Commission which sent Portugal a reasoned opinion on Thursday 29 September.
The Commission calls on Portugal to comply with its obligations of administrative oversight as provided for in the EU rules on flag state requirements (Directive 2009/21/EC) and in line with applicable international quality standards. The deadline for implementing and operating a quality management system was 17 June 2012.
Of greater concern, the Commission takes the view that a lack of manpower and resources in the Portuguese administration may in the long-run have a negative impact on safety, security and the environmental performance of the Portuguese flagged fleet. This is all the more significant given the recent growth in Portugal’s second ship register in Madeira.
Portugal now has two months to inform the Commission of corrective measures taken. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)