Maritime safety: roll-on/roll-off (Ro-ro) ferries and high speed passenger craft, conditions for the operation

Within five years, all Community ro-ro ferries and high speed passenger craft services should be fitted with a voyage data recorder (VDR). This proposal was adopted by the Committee. Mark WATTS (PES, UK) saw his report adopted on the directive on operation conditions in this transport sector.The Committee also asked the Commission to produce an annual safety report. The Commission should set up a data base open for the public on the particulars of ro-ro ferries and high speed passenger craft operating on domestic or international voyages. Mr WATTS emphasized the fact that Parliament should ensure that tragedies like the Estonia and the Herald of Free Enterprise could never happen again. Adoption of this report was an essential contribution to safety at sea.�