On 10 April, 2024, the European Parliament adopted the Maritime Safety Package. This package was presented by the European Commission in June 2023 and aims to update the EU’s maritime regulations regarding safety and pollution prevention. The package also includes a proposal to revise the regulation concerning the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
The Parliament extensively reviewed the container incident involving the MS “MSC Zoe”, particularly the fact that more than 800,000 kilos of cargo residues remain on the seabed over five years after the incident. This incident, among others, has led to stricter controls on the securing of containers and working conditions under the package. The other main revisions are summarized as follows:
- Investigations must be conducted more efficiently and quickly. An investigation must be completed within two to twelve months after the accident or incident. The working and living conditions on board, which may have influenced the accident, must also be included in the investigation.
- The selection criteria for inspecting ships will be tightened. Environmental issues will weigh more heavily in determining a ship’s risk profile.
- With the revised flag state requirements, it is mandatory that ships are inspected at least once every five years. These inspections will focus not only on safety but also on the environmental performance of the ships and the working conditions of the crew members.
- To increase transparency and streamline supervision, an EU database for ships flying the flag of a member state will be established within five years of the new rules coming into force.
- The list of substances prohibited from being discharged, such as oil and harmful liquids, is expanded to include sewage, waste, and scrubber residues.
Member states now have 2.5 years to transpose the new provisions into national law and prepare for their implementation. Members who have further questions on this subject are invited to contact the NNPC claims team via claims@nnpc.nl.
