Directive 2005/35 - Ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements

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1.

Current status

This directive has been published on September 30, 2005, entered into force on October  1, 2005 and should have been implemented in national regulation on March  1, 2007 at the latest.

2.

Key information

official title

Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements
 
Legal instrument Directive
Number legal act Directive 2005/35
Original proposal COM(2003)92 EN
CELEX number i 32005L0035

3.

Key dates

Document 07-09-2005
Publication in Official Journal 30-09-2005; Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 15 Volume 028,Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 15 Volume 015,OJ L 255, 30.9.2005,Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 15 Volume 015
Effect 01-10-2005; Entry into force Date pub. + 1 See Art 17
End of validity 31-12-9999
Transposition 01-03-2007; At the latest See Art 16

4.

Legislative text

30.9.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 255/11

 

DIRECTIVE 2005/35/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 7 September 2005

on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),

Whereas:

 

(1)

The Community's maritime safety policy is aimed at a high level of safety and environmental protection and is based on the understanding that all parties involved in the transport of goods by sea have a responsibility for ensuring that ships used in Community waters comply with applicable rules and standards.

 

(2)

The material standards in all Member States for discharges of polluting substances from ships are based upon the Marpol 73/78 Convention; however these rules are being ignored on a daily basis by a very large number of ships sailing in Community waters, without corrective action being taken.

 

(3)

The implementation of Marpol 73/78 shows discrepancies among Member States and there is thus a need to harmonise its implementation at Community level; in particular the practices of Member States relating to the imposition of penalties for discharges of polluting substances from ships differ significantly.

 

(4)

Measures of a dissuasive nature form an integral part of the Community's maritime safety policy, as they ensure a link between the responsibility of each of the parties involved in the transport of polluting goods by sea and their exposure to penalties; in order to achieve effective protection of the environment there is therefore a need for effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties.

 

(5)

To that end it is essential to approximate, by way of the proper legal instruments, existing legal provisions, in particular on the precise definition of the infringement in question, the cases of exemption and minimum rules for penalties, and on liability and jurisdiction.

 

(6)

This Directive is supplemented by detailed rules on criminal offences and penalties as well as other provisions set out in Council Framework Decision 2005/667/JHA of 12 July 2005 to strengthen the criminal law framework for the enforcement of the law against ship-source pollution (3).

 

(7)

Neither the international regime for the civil liability and compensation of oil pollution nor that relating to pollution by other hazardous or noxious substances provides sufficient dissuasive effects to discourage the parties involved in the transport of hazardous cargoes by sea from engaging in substandard practices; the required dissuasive effects can only be achieved through the introduction of penalties applying to any person who causes or contributes to marine pollution; penalties should be applicable not only to the shipowner or the master of the ship, but also the owner of the cargo, the classification society or any other person involved.

 

(8)

Ship-source discharges of polluting substances should be regarded as infringements if committed with intent, recklessly or by serious negligence. These infringements are regarded as criminal offences by, and in the circumstances provided for in, Framework Decision 2005/667/JHA supplementing this Directive.

 

(9)

Penalties for discharges of polluting substances from ships are not related to the civil liability of the parties concerned and are thus not subject to any rules relating to the limitation or...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

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