on maritime safety by the European Commission New proposals to support clean and modern shipping


Questions and Answers


What is the aim of the Directive on flag state


requirements? Flag States (the State which registers the ship and under whose law it operates) are the keystone for ensuring maritime safety. Each flag State must take all necessary measures to attest to the ship’s safety and compliance with international rules and regulations, including IMO rules. They are considered the first line of defence in maritime safety.


The revision of Directive 2009/21/ EC on compliance with flag State requirements is designed to update and improve the EU legislation to improve safety and pollution prevention from EU ships.


The flag State Directive does not set standards, but rather incorporates into the EU legal framework the regulations and standards set at IMO level.


They require flag States to correctly implement and apply the Conventions and have the resources and powers needed to assume their international obligations and ensure compliance of their flagged ships with these rules.


The proposal provides for a harmonised implementation of these rules, in terms of sharing information on the outcome of Member States’ inspections, promoting the use of electronic certificates, ensure adequate resources are dedicated for enforcement and appropriate training for inspectors as well as sufficient oversight over any outsourced inspection work.


What changes are proposed to the Directive on flag state requirements and why?


The current directive dates back from 2009 and needs to be brought up to date to take account of changes in both the international regulatory environment and technology. The current proposal will introduce the flag-state-relevant parts of the IMO Instruments Implementation Code into EU law, aligning EU obligations with international provisions. This will ensure that EU Member States correctly, effectively and consistently fulfil their obligations as flag States.


82 | ISSUE 106 | DEC 2023 | THE REPORT


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