EU plans to set up maritime safety body

A European Union proposal to set up a maritime safety agency has been welcomed by Green MEP Ms Patricia McKenna, but she has also said the Republic is one of seven member-states criticised by the EU for flouting current regulations.

The proposed agency is due to be debated by the European Parliament today as part of a revised directive on safety at sea.

The directive has been reviewed in the aftermath of the Erika oil tanker disaster of last December when the ship, carrying 26,000 tonnes of diesel oil, broke in two about 60 miles off Brittany.

Ms McKenna said that under the current directive member states must inspect at least 25 per cent of the vessels at berth in their ports. The Republic was one of seven member states which did not even reach that quota, and had been criticised by the EU for failing to comply.

"This is utterly disgraceful," Ms McKenna said yesterday. "There is no point in having laws if member-states continually flout them, which is the case with a lot of maritime law. The very least Ireland could do is comply with the current legislation before another disaster happens."

A report by Ms McKenna on accidental marine pollution is also due to be debated in parliament today. This proposes to set up a community framework for co-operation in the field of marine pollution, and will ensure an EU-wide approach to protecting the marine environment, human health and coastlines against the risk of accidents or deliberate pollution at sea.

The proposed European maritime safety agency will not lead to additional controls on ships, according to Ms Georgette Lalis, director for maritime transport at the European Commission.

The aim is to monitor ships' classification societies, harmonise practices and training in member-states throughout Europe, and adapt EU law to resolutions from the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) where appropriate, she said in a speech last week at the London Shipping Law Centre.

Plans for the agency mirror similar proposals for the aviation sector, she said. It is expected to focus on shipping only, and not on fishing vessel safety.

Full details are to be published by the end of the year.