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  • Prevention of Pollution by Ships Prevention of Pollution by Ships Maritime transport is an essential element of global trade and the economy. In the EU, it carries 77% of external trade and 35% of intra-EU trade. In 2019, ships flagged in EU Member States made up almost one fifth of the total world fleet in dead weight tonnage, a measure of cargo carrying capacity. Over one third of the ships engaged in international trade are owned by individuals and ...
  • Operational Pollution Response Services Operational Pollution Response Services The Agency offers a range of services to help coastal States around Europe respond quickly, effectively and efficiently to oil or chemical marine pollution incidents from ships and oil and gas installations. The services offered by the Agency can be described as a “toolbox” from which the requesting State can pick and choose the most suitable response means. Through these services, EMSA aims to ...
  • Accident Investigation Accident Investigation EMSA is responsible for providing technical assistance for the implementation of Directive 2009/18/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector. It provides the Secretariat for the Permanent Cooperation Framework (PCF) of Accident Investigation Bodies. It is also responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of EMCIP, the ...
  • Ship Safety Standards Ship Safety Standards One of the causes of maritime accidents is the lack of appropriate safety standards. EMSA plays an important role in defining them both at international level, through its participation in the committees and sub-committees of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on behalf of the European Commission, and at EU level, supporting the European Commission and the EU Member States in the ...
  • Places of Refuge Places of Refuge The issue of places of refuge for vessels in distress has entered into spotlight due to a number of incidents, such as the Erika (1999), the Castor (2000), the Prestige (2002), the Napoli (2007) and the Flaminia (2012). The above mentioned incidents triggered a discussion as to whether or not the existing rules were sufficient to regulate the situation of a ship in need of assistance. In ...
  • Marine Equipment Marine Equipment High quality marine equipment is vital in ensuring the overall safety of a ship, the cargo it carries, and its passengers, as well as the protection of the environment that surrounds it. Marine equipment saves lives in the event of an emergency, and as such, must comply with stringent quality standards here in the EU. MED Portal The MED Portal, managed by EMSA, contains all approved marine ...
  • Maritime Security Maritime Security Maritime security refers generally to measures taken for protection against unlawful acts such as piracy, armed robbery, terrorism and maritime violence. EMSA assists the European Commission by monitoring the implementation of Regulation (EC)No 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security. It also provides technical assistance to the EFTA Surveillance Authority on ship security. EMSA’s ...
  • Equasis Equasis The Equasis system went live in May 2000 and since then has been collating and making available, free of charge, ship safety and quality-related information on the entire world merchant fleet on the Internet. It has gained an international reputation and is currently considered the most reliable open source of information on quality and safety-related data of the world merchant fleet. Throughout ...
  • Enhanced maritime picture via Integrated Maritime Services Enhanced maritime picture via Integrated Maritime Services Getting a comprehensive overview of activities at sea is a challenge for most authorities working in the maritime domain. Coast guards and border guards, customs authorities, naval forces, pollution response centres, rescue coordination centres and vessel traffic management services all need detailed, reliable information about occurrences at sea in real time to be able to perform their duties ...
  • Ship Safety & Sustainability (THETIS) Ship Safety & Sustainability (THETIS) The THETIS system portfolio supports a huge array of maritime safety and environmental legislation here in the EU and beyond. Taken together, THETIS is a comprehensive, constantly updated set of support modules covering an ever-increasing range of ship-related reporting issues. THETIS has its roots in the port state control system, the second line of defence in maritime safety. First developed ...
  • Maritime Support Services Maritime Support Services The Maritime Support Services (MSS) centre is a 24/7 facility located at EMSA’s premises in Lisbon. The MSS offers round-the-clock support to ensure two main functions: the smooth running of EMSA’s maritime applications and the provision of rapid assistance in the event of an emergency at sea. To this end, the MSS is staffed by officers with specialist IT skills and maritime knowledge. Maritime ...
  • Databases & data centre Databases & data centre EMSA’s maritime applications have all been developed to address specific needs, defined by the relevant legal texts and by user requirements. Each maritime application functions based on its own specific rules, set of data, and access rights mechanisms. However, there are common elements which are used by all applications, known as central reference databases, which are developed and maintained ...
  • Vessel traffic monitoring in EU waters (SafeSeaNet) Vessel traffic monitoring in EU waters (SafeSeaNet) SafeSeaNet is a vessel traffic monitoring and information system, established in order to enhance, maritime safety port and maritime security marine environment protection efficiency of maritime traffic and maritime transport It has been set up as a network for maritime data exchange, linking together maritime authorities from across Europe. It enables European Union Member States, Norway, and ...
  • Vessel tracking globally (LRIT) Vessel tracking globally (LRIT) On 19 May 2006, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted Resolutions of the 81st Maritime Safety Committee - MSC 202(81) and MSC 211(81) - which made amendments to the International Convention of Safety of Life At Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) and introduced the establishment of the Long Range Identification and Tracking system (LRIT) for reasons related to national security. The main purpose ...
  • European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe) European Maritime Single Window environment (EMSWe) Member States have set up Maritime National Single Windows where ship operators and agents can fulfil in electronic format reporting obligations applied to ships arriving in and departing from their ports. For the facilitation of maritime transport, and to further reduce the administrative burden for shipping companies, the information procedures for fulfilment of reporting obligations should be ...
  • SafeSeaNet Ecosystem GUI SafeSeaNet Ecosystem GUI The SafeSeaNet Ecosystem Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the common web interface providing access to EMSA’s maritime applications and data sets including SafeSeaNet, Integrated Maritime Services, Long Range Identification and Tracking and CleanSeaNet. The SEG replaces the SSN Graphical Interface (GI), the IMS Web User Portal (WUP), the LRIT User Web Interface (UWI) and the CSN GIS Viewer. The ...
  • Interoperability Interoperability Maritime transport powers the world economy. With more than 80% of world trade transported by ship, the sector has a crucial role in the global supply chain. Here in the EU, approximately three quarters of all international trade in and out of the Union is carried by sea. Maritime transport also has an important social role in the EU. Hundreds of millions of passenger journeys are made each year ...
  • Satellite based Services Satellite based Services The two main satellite-based Earth Observation services offered by EMSA are CleanSeaNet and the Copernicus Maritime Surveillance service. Data from Earth Observation satellites offer a unique view of our oceans, seas, and coasts. Satellites, and their on-board sensors, provide routine, cost effective, reliable and wide area maritime surveillance. Alternatively satellites can be pointed to a ...
  • Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Services (RPAS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Services (RPAS) The EMSA RPAS services have been developed to assist in maritime surveillance operations to support authorities involved in Coast Guard functions undertaken by Member States Used as a complementary tool in the overall surveillance chain which includes satellite imagery, vessel positioning information and surveillance by manned maritime patrol aircraft and vessels, the RPAS service will increase ...
  • Copernicus Maritime Surveillance Service Copernicus Maritime Surveillance Service The Copernicus Maritime Surveillance (CMS) Service provides Earth Observation products (satellite images and value adding products) to support a better understanding and improved monitoring of activities at sea, within a wide range of operational functions such as maritime safety, maritime security, customs, law enforcement, marine pollution monitoring, fisheries control and international ...
  • Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) The Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) is an EU initiative which aims to make European and EU/EEA Member States surveillance systems interoperable to give all concerned authorities from different sectors access to additional classified and unclassified information they need to conduct missions at sea. Member State authorities carry out many different operational surveillance tasks, in ...
  • Capacity Building - EMSA Academy Capacity Building - EMSA Academy Training has been from the outset a core task of EMSA. Its founding Regulation requires the Agency to work with the Member States to organise (where appropriate) relevant training activities in fields which are the responsibility of the Member States. Furthermore, the Agency may, upon the request of the Commission, provide technical assistance, including the organization of relevant training ...
  • Neighbourhood Projects Neighbourhood Projects Since 2013, EMSA has been actively engaged in building up the capacity of European neighbourhood countries. This work helps to reinforce safety, security, and environmental standards in a much broader geographical context than simply at EU level, assisting the beneficiary countries themselves, and providing benefits across the regions involved. Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) ...
  • Research & Analytics Research & Analytics Welcome to the Research and Analytics hub at EMSA. This is the home of the EU Maritime Profile, developed to provide relevant and up-to-date statistics highlighting the details and importance of individual sectors and domains within the maritime transport sector in the European Union. The EU Maritime Profile is just one part of our research and analytics work. EMSA is also responsible for: the ...
  • Visits to Member States Visits to Member States Verification of the implementation of the EU maritime safety and security legislation remains a core task of the Agency. There are several reasons for verifying how this legislation is implemented in practice, including detecting gaps in the overall safety system; promoting a harmonised approach across the European Union; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures in place. ...
  • Inspections Inspections Verification of the implementation of the EU maritime safety and security legislation remains a core task of the Agency. There are several reasons for verifying how this legislation is implemented in practice, including detecting gaps in the overall safety system; promoting a harmonised approach across the European Union; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures in place. ...
  • European Cooperation on Coast Guard functions European Cooperation on Coast Guard functions The European Union and its Member States have a strategic interest across the global maritime domain in identifying and addressing relevant challenges linked to the sea. European citizens expect effective and cost-efficient responses to ensure the protection of the maritime domain, including borders, ports and offshore installations. They also expect secure seaborne trade, that potential threats ...