Maritime safety: monitoring, control and information for traffic, package Erika II (repeal. Directive 93/75/EEC)

PURPOSE : to improve maritime safety and to reduce the possible environmental consequences of an accident at sea. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system and repealing Council Directive 93/75/EEC. CONTENT : the Council adopted the Directive establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system and repealing Council Directive 93/75/EEC incorporating all the amendments approved by the European Parliament at second reading; This Directive is to be seen against the background of the second Commission communication on maritime safety following the sinking of the Erika. Its purpose is to help improve maritime safety and to reduce the possible environmental consequences of an accident at sea. Achieving these objectives involves extending the declaration obligations on vessels before entering Member States' waters, the use of EDI (electronic data interchanges) and the automatic vessel identification system (AIS system), increased cooperation among Member States and closer monitoring of vessels presenting a specific risk to maritime safety and the environment. This Directive applies to ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards, unless stated otherwise. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 05/08/2002. IMPLEMENTATION : 05/02/2004.�