The European Parliament and European Council have reached a provisional agreement on new legislation covering maritime accident investigation.
The agreement revises the European Union’s current accident investigation directive with the aim of widening the scope of maritime investigations.
The rules will also be made clearer and simpler and more closely aligned with the International Maritime Organization’s maritime accident investigation code.
Belgian deputy prime minister Paul Van Tigchelt, who is minister of justice and the North Sea, said the agreement “sets a milestone for safer and cleaner maritime transport in Europe while safeguarding competitiveness of our shipping sector”.
Fishing vessels over 15 metres in length will be included in the directive; definitions will be clarified to harmonise investigation between member states; and the capacity of accident investigation bodies will be enhanced.
The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by both co-legislators before final adoption of the act.
Member states will then have 30 months after the entry into force of the revised directive to transpose its provisions into national legislation.
More than 2,000 marine accidents and incidents are reported every year within EU waters, although very few fatalities or oil spills.
In one notable casualty last year, the 6,210-ceu car carrier Fremantle Highway (built 2013) suffered a catastrophic fire off Rotterdam.
The accident investigation directive is part of a series maritime safety measures submitted by the European Commission last June.
Five legislative proposals were introduced to modernise rules on safety and reducing water pollution from ships.
There were further measures to curb ship-source pollution, encourage compliance with flag state requirements and improve port state control and the European Maritime Safety Agency.
