MEPs meeting up for a plenary session on Wednesday 4 October, voted in favour during the first reading, of three proposals for a directive to strengthen the safety of passenger vessels.
The first text revises directive 2009/45/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships and was voted for by a large majority of MEPs (659 ‘for’, 12 ‘against’, 17 abstentions). It clarifies the technical standards for construction, stability and fire prevention on board ships. The text distinguishes between different kinds of vessels. Some are excluded from the scope of application, such as sailing boats and ships transporting personnel to offshore installations. It includes a specific deadline for ships built in aluminium alloys to reach compliance.
The proposal for a directive on the registration of persons sailing aboard passenger ships, amending directives 98/41/EC and 2010/65/EU were also approved with a large majority (655 ‘for’, 12 ‘against’, 36 abstentions). The data on passengers and crew members of a ship undertaking a journey of more than 20 miles will have to, following transposition of the directive, be sent in electronic form 15 minutes after departure at a single national one-stop portal. The rapporteur for the text, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE, Spain), however, declared during a debate on the text on Tuesday 3 October that he hoped that a single European one-stop portal would be put in place in the future.
The third text involves inspections of inspections for the safe operation of ro-ro ferry and high-speed passenger craft abrogating directive 1999/35/EC and amending directive 2009/16/EC. This was also voted for by large majority at the same time (661 ‘for’, 11 ‘against’, 17 abstentions). This directive will help to simplify and harmonise inspection systems by reducing administrative procedures. Following an initial inspection, ro-ro ferry and high-speed passenger craft will be inspected twice a year.
The three texts were the subject of a compromise between the European Parliament and Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 14 and 15 June last (see EUROPE 11809), during a transport committee on 11 July (see EUROPE 11827). The Council’s employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs body is due to vote on these three texts on 23 October next. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)