Protection of Fuel Tanks Safety ahead! - GL Group

MARITIME SERVICES | EMSA
nean were identified as sensitive areas for this purpose.
Standby contracts have been concluded with private companies
which will make their vessels – normally employed
in commercial trade, but equipped with oil recovery and
storage systems – available at short notice. This spill response
capacity is available to coastal states on request
and does not replace the prime responsibility
of member states for fighting oil pol-
lution. The Agency is at present studying
whether the operational assistance can
be extended to other pollutants like light
oil and other chemicals. This is a complex
exercise in view of the vast number of
chemicals transported and their different
properties.
nonstop: What is the current state of maritime
safety and pollution prevention in
European waters? Have the Maritime Safety
Packages Erika I and II and the controls
by EMSA led to tangible improvements?
de Ruiter: It is too early to judge the overall
impact of EMSA’s activities. But there is a
positive trend. EU waters are now generally
safer than in the past. Ships inspected
by EU-recognized organizations are doing
well in Port State Control statistics.
They are rarely detained for class related Willem de Ruiter
deficiencies.
The safety situation in the European
Union will be further improved when the
IT-system SafeSeaNet becomes fully operational. This will
harmonize the maritime data exchange between member
states and enable them to monitor the more than 20,000
ships operating in European waters at any given time.
nonstop: Where does EMSA see the major risks for maritime
safety and clean seas? Is the technical quality of the ships
or the human factor the crucial point?
de Ruiter: It is estimated that around 80% of the accidents
at sea occur as a result of human error. But it is difficult
to draw general conclusions from accidents because accident
investigation in European countries follows different
methods and results are not comparable.
This is why EMSA argues in favour of an EU marine ac-
EMSA: THE SAFETY EXPERTS
18 nonstop 4/2006
HEADQUARTERS.
From Lisbon
EMSA fi ghts for
environmental
protection and
safety.
Photo: EMSA
“A cause of
concern is the
increasing oil
tanker traffi c in
enclosed waters
such as the
Baltic Sea.”
Headquartered in Lisbon,
the European Maritime
Safety Agency (EMSA) is
the technical and operative
body of the European Union
dedicated to promoting
shipping safety and pollution
prevention in European
waters.
The beginnings. Two oil
tanker disasters, “Erika” off
the French coast in 1999,
and “Prestige” near Spain in
2002, severely affected the
inhabitants of the coastal areas
and the environment. In
cident database which would contain data supplied by
the member states in a common format. This would be an
important source of accident information in Europe and
would assist in future decisions on maritime safety.
Apart from this, a cause of concern is the increasing
oil tanker traffic in enclosed waters like the Baltic and the
Black Sea. The worldwide shipbuilding
boom also begs the question whether high
output of newbuildings and quality will go
hand in hand.
nonstop: How does EMSA organize its cooperation
with IMO in London in order to
maintain IMO’s position as a global regulator
of shipping?
de Ruiter: Merchant shipping is international
and needs global standards. EMSA represents
the EU Commission in IMO’s technical
work. It helps the Commission and the
member states to prepare European positions
and initiatives for IMO’s regulatory
framework.
nonstop: What are the priorities for EMSA’s
future work?
de Ruiter: The future agenda will be influenced
by the Third Maritime Safety Package
which is being discussed by the European
Parliament and by the Council of
Ministers. It deals with many issues with
which EMSA concerns itself: flagstate responsibility,
Port State Control, classification
societies, traffic monitoring, accident investigation,
liability. It remains to be seen which additional tasks for
EMSA will flow from decisions about this package.
Other priorities include the conclusions of additional
contracts for standby oil recovery vessels and setting up a
satellite surveillance system to monitor large sea areas to
detect illegal discharges and accidental oil spills.
nonstop: And when will EMSA move into its permanent
purpose-built headquarters in Lisbon?
de Ruiter: We hope to be able to open our new office at the
waterfront in the historical centre of Lisbon towards the
end of 2007.
nonstop: Mr de Ruiter, thank you very much! ■ CH
response, several EU institutions
launched initiatives to
enhance safety. The result:
the EU established EMSA
which began its work in 2003.
The issue. The European
Union’s 25 member countries
operate more than 600
important seaports. Roughly
90% of the EU’s imports and
exports, and about one-third
of its internal trade volume
pass through these ports. An
increasing number of the
ships sailing on European
waters are oil tankers.
The objectives. EMSA
advises the EU Commission
and the member countries
on all issues surrounding
maritime safety. It also
monitors the implementation
of, and adherence to,
the respective EU laws and
regulations by the member
countries and organizations.
Furthermore EMSA audits
port authorities, classifi cation
societies and training
facilities, and assists the
EU member countries in
coping with oil spills.