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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 businesse ...
  • 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 c ...
  • 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 E ...
  • 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 devel ...
  • 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 conseque ...
  • Marine Equipment Marine Equipment The Marine Equipment is a key element to ensure the overall safety of a ship. The mandatory safety equipment to be carried on board is defined at international level by the IMO, whereas the standards are set by different standardisation bodies, including ISO, CENELEC and also the IMO. The EU took action through the Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU to harmonise the testing standards and the c ...
  • Maritime Security Maritime Security Maritime security refers generally to measures taken for protection against unlawful 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 provid ...
  • 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 ...
  • Integrated Maritime Services Integrated Maritime Services Through IMS Services EMSA strives to: Promote and increase regional, national and local cooperation; Provide additional, complementary and supportive data, information and tools for enhancing the maritime domain picture; Provide relevant services to all authorities/organisations executing functions in the maritime domain; Respond to detailed needs and requirements as specified by users; Provide s ...
  • Ship Inspection Support (THETIS, RuleCheck...) Ship Inspection Support (THETIS, RuleCheck...) The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) provides Member States with the necessary means to act effectively to enhance overall maritime safety and ship pollution prevention rules. EMSA develops hosts and maintains technical solutions thus supporting the building up of the necessary national capacity for the implementation of relevant legal acts of the Union. EMSA provides objective, reliable an ...
  • Maritime Support Services Maritime Support Services The Operations Room 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 providing rapid assistance in the event of an emergency at sea. To this end, the MSS is manned by officers with specialist IT skills and maritime knowledge ...
  • 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 Ic ...
  • 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 of ...
  • European Maritime Single Window (EMSW) European Maritime Single Window (EMSW) Simplifying reporting formalities. Member states have set up a National Single Window through which member states have set up a National Single Window through which shipping companies can submit information electronically and make this information available as necessary to multiple authorities. EMSA has been providing support tothe member states, helping them to achieve a harmonised implementatio ...
  • 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 ...
  • 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 targe ...
  • 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 t ...
  • 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 and security, fisheries control, customs, law enforcement, marine environment pollution monitoring, and others. Implem ...
  • 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 acti ...
  • Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) & Neighbouring Countries Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) & Neighbouring Countries EMSA works to build up the national capacity of European neighbourhood countries, thereby helping to reinforce safety, security and environmental standards in a much broader geographical context than simply at EU level. Through both the SAFEMED IV and Black and Caspian Sea (BCSEA) projects, EMSA offers training courses and workshops, as well as access to tools (e.g. RuleCheck, MaKCs, THETIS-MED) ...
  • 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 de ...
  • Visits to Member States Visits to Member States Verification of the implementation of the EU maritime safety and security legislation remains an essential task and 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 p ...
  • Inspections (Recognised Organisations, Seafarers...) Inspections (Recognised Organisations, Seafarers...) Verification of the implementation of the EU maritime safety and security legislation remains an essential task and 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 p ...
  • 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 ...