EU Shipping Law
Page 1505
CHAPTER 37
Maritime safety: marine equipment
A. Introduction
37.001 This chapter considers the European Union (“EU”) shipping law aspects of marine equipment. EU law aims to enhance the safety and quality of marine equipment on board ships so as to increase levels of maritime safety generally. The spin-offs from improved standards for marine equipment include not only improved safety and well-being but enhanced protection of the environment. 37.002 In their 7 May 2014 Athens Declaration entitled Mid-Term Review of the EU’s Maritime Transport Policy until 2018 and Outlook to 2020,1 the EU’s Transport Ministers emphasised “that Europe strives to keep its leadership in maritime technology, equipment and innovative maritime services and at the same time taking under consideration respective competition by other regions of the world”. In the same Declaration, the Ministers went on to state:“VI. Europe should be the world leader in maritime research and innovation