European Maritime Safety Agency

The European Parliament adopted by 570 votes to 20, with 14 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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 European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the proposal as follows:

Horizontal technical assistance

It is stated that the Agency should assist the Commission as well as the Member States.

Tasks relating to maritime safety

The Agency should, inter alia:

- disseminate the results of its research and innovation activities, following approval by the Commission, as part of its contribution to creating synergies between the research and innovation activities of other Union bodies and the Member States;

- analyse and propose relevant guidance or recommendations in relation to potential safety risks stemming from the uptake and deployment of sustainable alternative sources of power for ships, including onshore power supply to ships at berth, battery technologies used for propulsion, “zero emission technologies”, as defined in [FuelEU Maritime] or other future technologies on board of ships or in port areas;

- gather and analyse data on the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 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

The Agency should share and receive relevant information from other EU Agencies, such as the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), especially in relation to lost fishing gear.

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

The Agency should:

- assess the need to implement additional training modules for maritime professionals handling new and often complex hybrid and zero emission systems;

- 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.

Such assistance should also include monitoring and reporting on impacts on port traffic, port evasion and traffic shift to the neighbouring container transhipment ports, to the detriment of EU ports.

Tasks relating to maritime surveillance and maritime crises

In support of a strong and united answer of the Union and its Member States to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Agency should, inter alia, monitor suspicious behaviour around pipelines and detect sanctions evasion at sea.

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

In cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Fisheries Control Agency, the Agency should provide support to national authorities performing coastguard functions at national and Union level and, where appropriate, at international level:

- by 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;

- by 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;

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

Management Board

Member States and the Commission should be represented on a Management Board vested with the necessary powers, including the power to establish the budget and approve the programming document. The European Parliament should be represented as an observer.