Community ports: vessels carrying dangerous or polluting goods (amend. Directive 93/75/EEC)

OBJECTIVE: To improve preventive measures and response in the event of incidents at sea which could lead to accidents involving ships transporting dangerous or polluting goods. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 98/55/EC amending Directive 93/75/EEC concerning minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods. SUBSTANCE: The amendment approved by the Council aims to: - specify that the directive covers certain radioactive materials as referred to in the INF code (IMO code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium, and high-level radioactive wastes in flasks on board ships); - amend the current annexes to Directive 93/75/EEC in line with developments in international law; - enable the Community procedure to be applied in order to amend the annexes to the directive in line with developments in international law with regard to safety at sea and environmental protection. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21/08/1998. DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 31/12/1998. �