EC reprimands nine EU states on vessel traffic safety

EC reprimands nine EU states on vessel traffic safety    The European Commission said today it has sent “reasoned opinions” — a form of reprimand before a formal complaint is lodged with the European Court of Justice — to nine European Union states because of their failure “to communicate national measures” transposing a directive on vessel traffic monitoring and safety.
   The states that have not complied with the EU rules are Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and the United Kingdom.
   The EC directive of June 27, 2002 established an EU vessel traffic monitoring and information system.
   “This directive, which is an essential part of the second package of legal instruments adopted by the EU in the wake of the ‘Erika’ accident, sets out the obligation to notify the maritime authorities, in particular in case a ship is carrying dangerous or polluting goods,” the EC said.
   The directive also provides for the monitoring of hazardous ships and for the intervention in the event of accidents at sea.
   In this context, it sets out the obligation for member states to draw up plans to accommodate ships in distress in the waters under their jurisdiction by improving the response of authorities to incidents, accidents and potentially dangerous situations at sea.