During a recent meeting with the President and Vice President of the Confederation of European Shipmasters’ Associations (CESMA) in Brussels, Mr.Barrot has shown to have a keen interest in the European Maritime Industry. This interest is fully shared by CESMA, an organisation of European Union Shipmasters’ Associations, which celebrates its tenth a nniversary this year. The Confederation represents ten shipmasters’ associations as well as a growing number of individual members in ten maritime nations in the European Union.

      Among matters discussed were maritime safety and security in EU harbours and coastal waters in conjunction with tasks of the European Maritime Safety Agency and attention for the protection of the marine environment. To be able to achieve these goals, it was considered crucial to attach importance to maintain a prominent contingent of well educated and trained EU seafarers with enough maritime experience to master EU nation flagged ships and occupy positions within the EU maritime industry such as European Union based inspection agencies, pilots and surveyors. This retention of maritime expertise in the EU, now and in the future, was found to be of crucial importance.

      In direct connection the impending legislation on sanctions for seafarers causing marine pollution was discussed. CESMA underlined its point of view that these criminal sanctions should not concern unintentional pollution. This position is supported by two arguments:

•    Any person, while at work, can make a mistake. That does not convert him or her into a criminal.
•    The directive gives a very wrong signal to those who aspire after a seafaring career.

      During discussions, CESMA representatives offered Mr. Barrot full professional support in his work to promote the EU maritime industry and to improve maritime safety and security in EU harbours and coastal waters. We believe talks were constructive and in the right atmosphere.

      CESMA, which operates on a honorary basis and has its Head Office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, was and is still involved in a number of important EU maritime projects which aim at achieving the above goals.