EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy

Consultation on the EU Green Paper ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’ and supporting papers.

They can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/green_paper_en.html

The above Green Paper is open to comment until 30 June 2007.

A version of the Green Paper and a few of the many background papers have been attached here for convenience. The other background papers may be relevant, as may some of the submissions.

The English pdf version of the Green Paper* COMM_NATIVE_COM_2006_0275_5_EN_ACTE2.pdf:

The English pdf version of the Employment background paper * SEC2006_689_2employment.pdf:

The English pdf version of the safety and security background paper * SEC2006_689_6safetysecurity.pdf:

The Research background paper * SEC2006_689_8research.pdf:

The Competitiveness background paper * SEC2006_689_1competitiveness.pdf:

Comments from the Maritime Ergonomics Special Interest Group of the Ergonomics Society are being collated below.

First impressions

In the Green Paper, the Human Element is addressed as regards employment aspects. A risk-based approach is being advocated. The background papers on employment, social and training aspect, and on maritime safety & security address the human element and warrant more detailed examination.

The Green Paper discusses fragmentation of policy from the viewpoint of orderly legislation, but the need to consider integration from the seafarer viewpoint is not addressed. Given the changes likely in all aspects of the context of use, this omission is serious.

A brief examination of the background paper on research indicates no sign of interest in research on the human element.

We have work to do.

As a possible example to be considered during the consultation period, the EU work on promoting Short Sea Shipping (SSS) appears to be completely disconnected from work on the fatigue/manning implications of SSS. The potential impact on the crew of removing bottlenecks does not appear to be a topic for consideration. This is the sort of integration that is needed if the Human Element is to be addressed.

-- BrianSherwoodJones - 28 Jun 2006

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