The committee adopted the report by Josu ORTUONDO LARREA (Greens/EFA, E)
amending the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading). Although
it broadly welcomed the proposal, the committee adopted a number of
amendments seeking to tighten up the text and improve the practical
application of the classification system. It proposed for example that, in
the interests of harmonisation, the same timescale should be adopted for the
inspections of the inspection organisations carried out by the Member States
and by the Commission, in other words, every 2 years. It wanted the actions
of recognised organisations to be thoroughly scrutinised and recognition to
be withdrawn if the accident rate recorded by ships classed by such
organisations was excessively high. The committee also wanted to ensure
improved transparency, and therefore called for inspection organisations to
make all relevant information on changes, suspensions or withdrawals of
class available to the public on their websites. Lastly, it felt that the
amounts of compensation which the Commission was proposing should be paid by
the inspection organisation for personal injury or death (up to EUR 5
million) and loss or damage to property (up to EUR 2.5 million) caused by
any negligent or reckless act or omission of that organisation should be
reviewed by the Council and Parliament after 3 years, in the light of
experience gained.