Brussels, 09/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - In his report that will be presented on Monday, in first reading, to the European Parliament, the Dutch MEP from the Europe of Democracies and Diversities group (EDD), Rijk van Dam subscribes to "the general philosophy" of the Directive proposed last May by the European Commission to reduce the dangers of an accident during the loading and unloading the "bulk carriers", while proposing eight technical amendments. The future Directive will set out the harmonised requirement and procedures for the loading and unloading of bulk solid goods transport ships: iron minerals, grain, coal etc. It bases itself on the measures adopted within the International Maritime Organisation in December 1997 and mainly applies to the information procedures and control operations.
"The world dry bulk carrier fleet audited in 1999, 5,329 boats", transporting 3.2 billion tonnes, recalls Rijk van Dam in the explanatory memorandum in his report. During the last decade, 146 bulk carriers were ship wreaked, the smaller models represent close to 84% of the ship wreaks and only 46% of the fleet. The ship wreaks are mainly due to cases of flaws in the hulls. The rapporteurs amendments extend the timeframe for the enforcement of the text, which will rise from 24 months after the entry into force of the Directive instead of 18 months, but toughens other aspects of the text. They foresee in particular that the Member States will have "the obligation to prevent or stop the loading operations" when they are informed of a risk, and the Member States have the "power" to prevent these operations. The captain will also have to be informed of anomalies noted and give his opinion on the quality of repairs carried out on his ship, before the authorisation to cast off.