09/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 December, the Transport Council adopted a resolution on the EU LRIT (distance tracking of ships) data centre, which is responsible for receiving data on goods transported by ships bound for European ports (see EUROPE 9514). The centre will be managed by the European Commission in cooperation with member states and through the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The resolution adopted states that all costs related to request for information from national or overseas maritime safety coordination centres should be met by the Community budget and all LRIT information requested in the event of an emergency or accident should be provided free of charge. The resolution also sets out the conditions required of third countries for membership of the centre (inter alia, being covered by the SOLAS Convention, and not being on the black list of vessels). Their costs of should not, however, be borne by the Community budget. (A.By./transl.rt)