Press release: Maritime safety: new EU rules to “name and shame” shipping companies with poor safety records

New rules to enhance and improve the safety performance of ships were adopted on 13 September 2010 by the European Commission. The rules will introduce, from 1 January 2011, a new online register to "to name and shame" shipping companies which are performing poorly on vital safety inspections (port state controls), while those with strong safety records will be given good public visibility. Port state controls are crucial for preventing shipping disasters and the tragic loss of life and huge environmental damage that can result. Companies and states which show up as poorly performing will be subject to more intensive, co-ordinated inspections in EU ports. Manufacturers or other industries will be able to choose the shipping companies they use for freight or passengers in full knowledge of their safety record

• Primary Source