The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Luis de GRANDES PASCUAL (EPP-ED, ES) amending the proposed directive on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations. The main amendments were as follows:
- the term "incident" was replaced by "marine casualty”;
- whereas the Commission was proposing a minimum amount of financial compensation in the event of personal injury (EUR 4 million) or loss or damage to property (EUR 2 million), the committee said that, where the amount determined in the judgment or settlement is lower, that lower figure should apply;
- the aggregate amount of the fines and periodic penalty payments shall not exceed 5 % (rather than 10%) of the total turnover of the recognised organisation in the preceding business year for the activities falling under the scope of this Directive
- Parliament clarified the role of the recognised organisations when they are acting on behalf of the States;
- the Member States, together with the recognised organisations, shall set up, 18 months after the date of entry into force of the Directive, an Assessment Committee in accordance with the EN 45012 quality standards. The relevant professional associations working in the shipping industry may participate in an advisory capacity. Its tasks include regulation and assessment of the systems for management of the quality of recognised organisations, in accordance with the ISO 9001 quality standard criteria. The Assessment Committee shall act independently and shall accordingly have access to all the resources needed to be able to operate properly and carry out thorough and consistent work. It shall possess highly specialised and extensive technical skills and a code of conduct that will safeguard the independence of the auditors’ activities;
- three years from the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council, based on an independent study, on the level reached in the process of harmonising the rules and regulations and on mutual recognition. In the event of failure by the recognised organisations to fulfil the provisions relating to harmonisation, the Commission shall propose to the European Parliament and the Council the necessary measures.