MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY IN EUROPE

Bjelica Vlajić Iris (Висока бродарска школа академских студија, Београд), iris_bjelica_vlajic@yahoo.com

Waterborne transport, other than the importance for the economic development of a particular country or region, has a major impact on the pollution and destruction of the environment, damage to property and the loss of human lives. The great disasters that occurred near the European coast at the end of XX and the early XXI century prompted the EU to start paying more attention to the issue of waterborne transport safety. This paper reviews the most important EU legislation regulating the issue of maritime and inland waterway safety and obligations regarding the education and training of crew members of EU members as well as the third countries whose ships sail into European ports or whose citizens sail on these ships. The need to protect human lives and the environment has led the most important organizations at the global and regional level to cooperate and prevent marine casualties and accidents. The regulations of navigation safety and the conditions for the conduct of navigation have been harmonized by these organizations. Also, the degree of harmonization of domestic law with international standards has been presented.

Keywords: Navigation, maritime security, EU legislation, EMSA, inspections