Maritime safety: minimum level of training of seafarers

The rapporteur pointed out that 80% of accidents at sea were caused by human error. This was why the impact of the human factor needed to be minimised, by rationalising the qualification criteria and ensuring that these were correctly applied. Commissioner Bjerregaard considered that the common position was acceptable as it was and urged Parliament not to insist on adopting its amendments at second reading so that the directive could enter into force as soon as possible.