European parliament panel rejects “Prestige” inquiry

European parliament panel rejects “Prestige” inquiry

European parliament panel rejects “Prestige” inquiry

   The European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism has rejected a proposal to set up a temporary committee of inquiry within the parliament to investigate the sinking of the tanker “Prestige” off the Galician coast in November 2002.

   The vote on the parliament’s transport committee was 30-26. The panel did cite a need for nations in the European community to create safe havens for vessels in distress.

   The committee also expressed regret that the captain of the “Prestige” “has been treated like a criminal, although he is not responsible for the damage sustained by his vessel. The Spanish judicial authorities are asked to release him from house arrest,” the transport committee said in a statement.

   “The committee urges the establishment of a European coast guard service, more stringent surveillance, the prosecution of illegal discharging from vessels, (and) the enforcement of specific shipping routes,” the panel said.

   Vessels at great risk should be inspected more frequently, and the interval between inspections should be cut from 12 to six months, the committee proposed.

   Certain “ecologically sensitive and navigationally difficult” areas in Baltic waters should not be crossed by deepsea ships, especially tankers, without having a pilot on board, the panel said.