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January 2003
Since 1st January 2003 Greece has taken over the presidency of the European Union.
Numerous shipwreck problems have emerged including that of the oil tanker Prestige off the coast of Spain at the end of 2002. New regulations should shortly be introduced. How will Greece, a country of shipowners, deal with these developments?
The fifteen European countries have decided to banish from their ports single hull oil tankers which carry heavy fuel. After the Erika whose cargo soiled the coastline of Brittany in France and the Prestige which sank off Galicia in Spain and whose cargo slowly continues to escape, and other accidents, collisions and shipwrecks of container vessels, measures must be taken to safeguard the European coast and the marine environment. Furthermore some think that the threat of terrorist attacks on oil tankers and other vessels cannot be excluded. Mandatory action is required!
It is rare when decisions taken by the Fifteen precede European directives but this time it is so! Although only double hull oil tankers which provide sufficient safety characteristics will be authorized from the beginning of 2003 the directive will only come into force in mid year. Between time the ministers of Transport from the fifteen countries have agreed to move away boats carrying dangerous cargoes beyond the 200 nautical miles zone from the coast but this is not always easy to implement in some particular places, (Ouessant in Brittany, in the Dover Straits between France and England or around the Aegean Sea). France, Spain and Portugal which are the countries mainly affected by oil tanker spills have already implemented this measure. Greece proposes the organisation of a system of specially equipped ports of refuge. Many believe that if the Prestige had benefited from such a system the damage would have been considerably less and the pumping of the oil would be been easier.
A European Agency for maritime safety which is to be set up will coordinate the checks for vessels in ports. It is probable that Greece will propose Piraeus as their specially equipped port.
Officially Greece tolerates no laxity in maritime safety : the blocking of 20 of the 66 vessels in poor condition took place in Greek ports. Greece carries out inspection checks on more than 28% of the vessels in the country (the European directive requires 25% and most of the countries are below this figure). Everything would be fine if Greek shipowners who own 17% of the world’s fleet did not have interests in companies based in other countries well known for being lax concerning the condition of vessels and the experience of the crews… And all the same Greece must have maritime activities above all suspicion as this activity represents 4 billion euros (more than the community grants) and 5% of jobs.
Even if all the regions of the world were uncompromising on maritime safety, as long as flags of convenience, companies with multiple branches in “tax havens” prevail, the dangers will continue to exist. European countries cannot let their image be tarnished by these floatings rust buckets.
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