SafeSeaNet - The Union Maritime Information & Exchange System
It is the European platform for maritime data sharing, linking together authorities from across Europe, to become the core of all relevant maritime information tools.
It is composed of a network of national systems in the Member States and a central system acting as a nodal point, hosted and operated by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Apart from enhancing maritime safety, port and maritime security, environmental protection and pollution preparedness, the system allows for the exchange and sharing, in accordance with Union legislation, of additional information facilitating efficient maritime traffic and maritime transport.
It is composed of a network of national systems in the Member States and a central system acting as a nodal point, hosted and operated by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Apart from enhancing maritime safety, port and maritime security, environmental protection and pollution preparedness, the system allows for the exchange and sharing, in accordance with Union legislation, of additional information facilitating efficient maritime traffic and maritime transport.
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To further enhance the situational awareness in the maritime domain and to provide tailor-made solutions to authorities, the Vessel Traffic Monitoring Directive,has been amended accommodating exchange, sharing, monitoring, surveillance, positioning and observation
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Maritime traffic needs to be monitored in order to avoid accidents at sea in the first place. In the event of an accident there is an immediate need for operational information. Authorities involved need to know what a vessel is carrying on board in order to take the best course of action to mitigate the accident; saving lives of crew and passengers and helping to reduce the potential impacts in terms of pollution to the environment.
For reasons of maximising efficiency and avoiding duplication of efforts, there is a need to build on existing national and Union platforms. The EU legislation therefore includes the requirement on Member States to develop and maintain the necessary technical interfaces for electronic data transmission to the SafeSeaNet.
This will be further explored through the linking with the National Single Windows (where information is reported once and made available to the various competent authorities), once operational in 2015. Hence, under normal circumstances, the same maritime picture can be used for trade facilitation purposes as well as for enforcement and control purposes in the fields of customs, sea border control, health and general law enforcement.
Already now the integrated maritime services are used by other EU Agencies e.g. providing operational services in the areas of anti-piracy, fisheries campaign monitoring and border control on behalf of EU-NAVFOR, EFCA and FRONTEX, respectively. It is also supporting the objectives of MAOC-N, a platform for cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking by sea.
The services are also offered to all EU/EEA states, allowing them to make full use of the system and can be tailor-made for specific national purposes such as coastal radar or patrol assets. In future, users will also be able to access vessel behaviour patterns and meteorological and oceanographic data.
By developing the system and platform in this way it supports the facilitation and establishment of the maritime internal market – the European Maritime Transport Space without barriers while still maintaining safety, security and sustainability.
For reasons of maximising efficiency and avoiding duplication of efforts, there is a need to build on existing national and Union platforms. The EU legislation therefore includes the requirement on Member States to develop and maintain the necessary technical interfaces for electronic data transmission to the SafeSeaNet.
This will be further explored through the linking with the National Single Windows (where information is reported once and made available to the various competent authorities), once operational in 2015. Hence, under normal circumstances, the same maritime picture can be used for trade facilitation purposes as well as for enforcement and control purposes in the fields of customs, sea border control, health and general law enforcement.
Already now the integrated maritime services are used by other EU Agencies e.g. providing operational services in the areas of anti-piracy, fisheries campaign monitoring and border control on behalf of EU-NAVFOR, EFCA and FRONTEX, respectively. It is also supporting the objectives of MAOC-N, a platform for cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking by sea.
The services are also offered to all EU/EEA states, allowing them to make full use of the system and can be tailor-made for specific national purposes such as coastal radar or patrol assets. In future, users will also be able to access vessel behaviour patterns and meteorological and oceanographic data.
By developing the system and platform in this way it supports the facilitation and establishment of the maritime internal market – the European Maritime Transport Space without barriers while still maintaining safety, security and sustainability.
PoR - Places of Refuge
The Agency is acting by:
- providing technical, operational and scientific assistance to the European Commission in the fields of maritime safety, maritime security, prevention and response to pollution caused by ships as well as response to pollution caused by oil and gas installations.
- assisting in the process of updating and developing new legislation, monitoring its implementation and evaluating the effectiveness of the measures in place. The Agency also assists EU neighbouring countries to extend know-how and capabilities.
- upon request, assisting Member States affected by maritime pollution caused by ships and oil and gas installations, providing anti-pollution tools (specialised ships and equipment) and satellite images to detect pollution (CleanSeaNet).
