Brussels, 09/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - Thursday's Transport Council unanimously reached a political agreement on the proposal of a regulation aimed at integrating into EU law the international code for the management of safety of vessels and the prevention of pollution (ISM code) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The agreement only slightly changes the initial proposal: it extends its scope to some extent, provides in some cases exemptions to the provisions of the regulation, and defers by one year the regulation's entry into force. The European Parliament has now to give its stance at second reading.
The aim of the proposal of regulation is to strengthen the management of safety at sea as well as maritime pollution prevention. According to the Council's political agreement, the regulation will apply to: - both passenger and freight vessels registered under a Member State flag and making international and national trips; - freight and passenger vessels only making national journeys within the EU irrespectively of their flag; - freight and passenger vessels on regular maritime transport service to or from Community ports irrespective of the flag under which they are registered; - and to vessels able to carry out drilling operations ("mobile drilling units") operating at sea under the authority of a Member State, except for units of less than 500 gross registered tonnage (grt). Passenger vessels on national trips operating at least 5 miles from the coast will not be covered by the regulation, irrespectively of their country of registration.
Member States should ensure that the maritime companies using one of these vessels and the vessels concerned will respect the provisions of the regulation, before being able to issue the conformity and approval certificates valid for five years. The Council's political agreement allows them, however, to grant exemptions in certain cases on condition that measures are taken to guarantee an equivalent level of safety and ensure that these measures are notified to the European Commission. The Council also deferred by one year the regulation's entry into force, and its provisions will be applicable two years after its enforcement.