European Maritime Safety Agency

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Cláudia MONTEIRO DE AGUIAR (EPP, PT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:

Tasks relating to maritime safety

Members proposed that the Agency should gather and analyse data on seafarers. It may also gather and analyse data on the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 with the aim of assisting in the improvement of the onboard working and living conditions of seafarers. The Commission should use that data, jointly with the data generated by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers information system (STCW IS) for developing appropriate strategic responses to recruit and retain seafarers in activity.

Tasks relating to sustainability

On the containers lost at the Sea, the Agency should provide guidance to the industry stakeholders and to the Flag State on the requirements agreed at IMO for mandatory reporting of lost containers. The possibility of collective and coordinated response mechanisms at EU and international level should also be examined.

Tasks relating to decarbonisation

According to Members, the Agency should monitor progress on the operational and technical measures undertaken to increase the energy efficiency of ships and ports and the deployment of sustainable alternative fuels, energy and power systems for ships, including onshore power supply and wind-assisted propulsion and onboard carbon capture, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The Agency should assess the need to implement additional training modules for maritime professionals handling new and often complex hybrid and zero emission systems.

Moreover, the Agency should in particular research, analyse and propose relevant guidance or recommendations in relation to the uptake and deployment of sustainable alternative fuels, energy and power systems for ships, including, onshore power supply, wind-assisted, solar and kinetic wave propulsion and on-board carbon capture, ensuring respect for technology neutrality, as well as in relation to energy efficiency measures, with practices such as slow steaming and speed optimisation.

Tasks relating to digitalisation and simplification

The Agency should provide technical and operational assistance, as well as regular training and certification programmes to the Member States, upon their request and without prejudice to their rights and obligations as flag States, in the digitalisation of their registries and their procedures facilitating the uptake of electronic certificates and in the digitalisation of any other procedures, which may have a positive effect in reducing the administrative burden on flag, port or coastal State Authorities.

European cooperation on coast guard functions

The amended text increases the functions of the Agency to include:

- enhancing the exchange of information and cooperation on coast guard functions including by analysing operational challenges and emerging risks in the maritime domain including by using digital simulation tools to study the effect of accidents;

- sharing the relevant research, developments and technologies, including artificial intelligence, in a collaborative and flexible way, to find solutions to the challenges faced in the different areas;

- increasing the cooperation in order to collect data for marine scientific research purpose on marine ecosystems, physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine biology, fisheries, scientific ocean drilling and coring, geological and geophysical research, and other activities;

- implementing cooperation projects with third countries to improve maritime safety, pollution prevention by ships, maritime security and preservation of the marine environment.

Financial allocations

The Agency should provide horizontal, technical support, upon request by the Commission or the Member States, for the implementation of any task that falls under the remit of its competences and objectives, stemming from future needs and developments at the Union level under the remits of maritime legislation. Such additional tasks should be subjected to a consideration of the available human and financial resources, which the Management Board of the Agency should take into account before deciding to include them in the Single Programming Document of the Agency as part of its annual or multiannual work programme.

Governance structure

Members considered crucial strengthening relations between the Agency and the European Parliament. Therefore, they proposed to involve the European Parliament in the appointment of the Executive director, appointing a European Parliament representative for the management board and be consulted on the multi-annual programme.