Malta studies new EU maritime safety rules

Seven pieces of legislation on maritime safety unveiled yesterday by the European Commission are being scrutinised by the Maltese authorities to gauge their impact on the country's shipping register - one of the biggest in the EU.

The measures, announced in Brussels by Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, oblige EU member states to regulate vessels under their flag. The rules will facilitate inspections by port state authorities on suspect vessels.

At present, only 25 per cent of registered vessels of a particular flag are inspected annually. The EU is now proposing that all vessels would be checked.

The proposals will allow the EU to produce a "blacklist" of shipping companies with vessels that do not meet international safety standards.

The rules introduce compensation for passengers who find themselves in a difficult position as a result of accidents. Classification societies will be audited and will be penalised if found to be at fault.

The Commission is proposing to equip all fishing vessels in the EU with automatic identification systems to cut down on the risk of collision.

The update of maritime safety laws comes after measures taken in the light of major accidents in EU waters, including the Erika and Prestige oil tankers.

In October 2003, the EU prohibited single-hull tankers transporting fuel oil from entering or leaving European ports and adopted a timetable for the phase-out of the tankers by 2010.

With the accession of Cyprus and Malta, the EU became a world player in the maritime sector as both countries have major shipping registers.

Sources close to the Malta Maritime Authority told The Times it is too early to see what sort of effect with the proposals have on Malta's shipping registry. But the MMA is conducting an impact study to be able to present its position in Brussels when the maritime package is discussed at Council level.