Norman Atlantic accident
20.1.2015
Question for written answer E-000687-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Daniela Aiuto (EFDD) , Notis Marias (ECR) , Marco Valli (EFDD) , Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) , Ignazio Corrao (EFDD) , Rosa D'Amato (EFDD) , Laura Agea (EFDD) , Marco Affronte (EFDD) , Piernicola Pedicini (EFDD) , Tiziana Beghin (EFDD) , Marco Zanni (EFDD) , Dario Tamburrano (EFDD)
On 29 December 2014 the Norman Atlantic ferry (IMO: 9435466) suffered a big fire as a result of which 13 people have died and several more are missing or injured. Two people died during rescue operations after a rope broke. A port state control inspection carried out by Paris MoU (an international organisation) on 19 December 2014 in Patras harbour in Greece found six different deficiencies affecting the ship, including malfunctioning fire doors, missing emergency lights and equipment, faulty lifesaving devices and inadequate documentation. Visemar (the shipowner) alleged that the worst deficiencies had been fixed.
We ask the Commission to clarify:
- 1.whether inspection procedures and other obligations have regularly been respected in accordance with Directives 2009/16/CE, 2009/15/CE and 2009/21/CE and Regulation (EC) No 391/2009, and whether the provisions concerning safety measures are compatible with current legislation;
- 2.whether the European Maritime Safety Agency has fulfilled its duty to reduce the risk of maritime accidents, and whether the Commission plans to give the agency more control powers with respect to inspection procedures;
- 3.whether and how the Commission will cooperate with Member States in the investigation into the accident, and what measures it plans to adopt in order to avoid similar accidents in the future.