The EU is to step-up its efforts to limit causes of maritime pollution, particularly pollution originating from ships that are not seaworthy.
Addressing the European Commission this morning, Ms Loyola de Palacio, European Commission vice-president in charge of transport and energy said she had sent a letter to both EU members and its international partners, to deepen co-operation and take stronger commitments in the crucial matter of maritime safety.
She said following the recent accident involving The Prestigethe need for a radical change in the way the international maritime law represents the balance of interests has to be examined, and called for the adaptation of new international rules on maritime.
Of priority, she said, was:
- to accelerate the phasing-out of single hull tankers.
- to restrict the transport of heavy grades of oil in double-hulled tankers.
- to strengthen the controls in EU ports.
- to impose penal and financial sanctions on all parties who have contributed to a major oil pollution case through gross negligence
"Nowadays, many ships carry large quantities of hazardous cargoes which may cause ecological disasters for coastal states in case of accident," she said.
"The coastal states meet serious difficulties to address questions related to the protection of their coastlines and a number of States to regulate maritime safety and pollution prevention adequately" Loyola de Palacio wrote. "I would like to stress the importance to re-examine the international rules concerning the law of the seas"
The letter of the European Commission was sent to Secretary General of the United Nations, Australia, , United States of America amongst others.