the Committee adopted the report of Mr. Georg JARZEMBOWSKI (D, EPP) on international standards for ship safety - enforcement in respect of shipping using Community ports. The rapporteur said that the basis for Committee amendments on this proposal for a Council Directive is largely to adopt the version of the proposal as drawn up by the German presidency. The main aim of the rapporteur's amendments is to tighten the rules on Port State Control of ships in order to protect persons and the natural environment. It also must be ensured that port control authorities operate to high and uniform standards in all ports of the EU.
Some of the most important amendments, carried:
Am 3: Member States shall establish and maintain appropriate national maritime administrations for the inspection of ships in their ports or in the waters under their jurisdiction. Member States shall take whatever measures are appropriate to ensure that their competent authorities have the material and human resources to perform their duties as laid down in the Directive to a uniform high standard.
Am 4: The competent authority of each Member State shall carry out an annual total number of inspections to at least 25% of the number of individual ships which entered its ports during the previous calender year. These inspections shall be carried out both on ships entering a Member State's port and, where there are clear grounds for doing so, on ships sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States.
Am 7: In the exercise of Port State Control pursuant to this Directive every effort must be made to ensure that ships are not unduly detained or prevented from proceeding to sea. Should ships be unduly detained or prevented from proceeding to sea, compensation for the loss or damage incurred shall be paid.
Am 9: The owner or operator of a ship shall have the right of appeal against decisions taken by the competent authority or its surveyor.
�