Ferry safety rules

Siim Kallas, vice president and Commissioner for Transport noted that there have been a number of historic disasters which, along with the recent Costa Concordia accident, have influenced ideas about safety on passenger craft.

He said, “We are not just waiting for the next accident to happen. It would be foolhardy merely to respond after the event.”

These new rules will aim to improve the safety of roll-on roll-off ferries and to broaden existing regulations that at present simply cover steel passenger ships to include those made of other materials, including sailing and historical ships.

Mr Kallas concluded, “The ultimate aim must be that wherever a passenger boards a passenger ship in the world, safety should be at the highest possible level. Passengers should expect the same safety level standards whether they are crossing, for example, the Baltic Sea or sailing on an island daytrip in Asian waters.”

It is not yet known whether the proposals will include cruise ships.