Maritime safefy: safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers

PURPOSE : to enhance the safety of bulk carriers calling at terminals in the Community for loading and unloading of cargoes. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2001/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing harmonised requirements for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers. CONTENT : The purpose of the Directive is to enhance the safety of bulk carriers calling at terminals by reducing the risks of excessive stresses and physical damage to the ship's structure during loading or unloading, through the establishment of: - harmonised suitability requirements for those ships and terminals, and - harmonised procedures for cooperation and communication between those ships and terminals. There are requirements in relation to the operational suitability of bulk carriers and terminals, upon which Member States must satisfy themselves. They must also make the necessary arrangements to ensure that prescribed principles concerning the responsibilities of masters and terminal representatives are applied. The master is responsible for the safe loading and unloading of the bulk carrier under his command. The Directive lays down procedures between bulk carriers and terminals. Where the competent authority is informed of disagreement between the master and the terminal representative as to the application of these procedures, the competent authority must intervene. In the case of damage to the ship, the decision of whether immediate repair is necessary will be taken by the port State control authority. Repairs will be carried out to the satisfaction of the master and the competent authority before the ship leaves port. Member States must verify that terminals comply with the requirements in this directive. The verification procedure will include unannounced inspections during loading and unloading. DATE FOR TRANSPOSITION : 05/08/03 DATE OF APPLICATION : 01/03/04 ENTRY INTO FORCE : 05/02/02 �