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MEPs Back Ship Pollution Criminal Sanctions
01 Nov 2003
The Transport Committee of the European Parliament has welcomed Commission proposals earlier this month designed to lead to criminal sanctions for ships that cause pollution at sea.
In a first reading report, the Committee stressed that illegal pollution by ships must be made a punishable offence and that penalties should be imposed on whoever is deemed responsible, be it the Master, owner, operator, charterer or classification society.
Given the many deliberate discharges at sea of waste and cargo residues, including oil and chemicals, MEPs agreed that rules were needed n that any violation of these rules should be illegal in EU waters. They particularly backed the setting up of a European coast guard with legal powers and instruments.
MJ Information No: 18834
