Ref. Ares(2019)3442798 - 27/05/2019
H.E. Ms Kaja Tael
Permanent Representative of Estonia to the EU
Rue Guimard 11-13
1040 Brussels
BELGIUM
Lisbon, 24 May 2019
Subject: Visit to Estonia to monitor the implementation of
Directive 2001/96/EC establishing harmonised requirements
and procedures for the safe loading and unloading of bulk
carriers
Your Excellency,
According to Article 2.2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002, as amended, one of the tasks of EMSA is to
assist the Commission in the effective implementation of relevant binding legal acts of the Union, in particular
carrying out visits to the Member States.
I am writing to inform you that, in accordance with the Methodology for Visits to Member States adopted by
the Administrative Board of EMSA and following consultation with the Commission, it has been decided that a
team of EMSA staff will visit your Administration from 23 to 27 September 2019.
The purpose of the visit is to assess the functioning of the systems in place in Estonia to implement the
requirements of Directive 2001/96/EC of 4 December 2001 establishing harmonised requirements and
procedures for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers. Particular attention will be paid to the following:
■ Organisational arrangements in place for the Administration to ensure compliance with the requirements
of the Directive, including by other stakeholders such as terminal operators and masters;
■ Prevention and intervention activities by the Administration in its capacity as competent authority, e.g.
addressing alleged risky loading and unloading operations, mediating in cases of disagreement between
terminal representatives and masters, reviewing damage caused by loading or unloading operations
requiring immediate repairs;
■ Verifications conducted by the Administration for ensuring that loading and unloading operations are
compliant, including the required reporting to the Commission on the results of verifications and
inspections;
■ Enforcement activities including the national penalty system as a dissuasive enforcement mechanism and
its consistent application to infringements.
The EMSA team will consist of:
Kim Nielsen, Team Leader, Senior Inspector, Regulatory Compliance;
[email protected]
Tel +351 21 1209 256 / Fax +351 21 1209 212
EMSA, Praça Europa 4, 1249-206 Lisbon, Portugal / emsa.europa.eu
Alexander van Hoeylandt, Senior Project Officer for Ship Safety.
The preliminary work plan includes as a minimum a visit to the headquarters of the competent authority
designated to perform functions under the above mentioned Directive.
The preliminary timetable for the visit is as follows:
1. 23 September - monitoring of the operational implementation and enforcement of the Directive by the
designated competent authorities.
2. 24-26 September – monitoring the relevant loading and unloading activities and compliance with the
requirements by ships and terminals while in operation at the ports of Muuga, Sillamäe and Tallinn.
3. 27 September - summing up of findings and closing meeting with the designated competent authority.
I propose that further details for the programme are worked out between the national focal point or coordinator
you may designate for further correspondence and the EMSA team. The contact person in EMSA will be Kim
Nielsen, Senior Inspector. His direct telephone number is: +351 21 1209387 and his e-mail address is
[email protected].
Following the visit, EMSA will send a report with the findings of the visit to the Commission and to your
Administration.
I trust that I, and the team, can rely upon the co-operation of the Estonian Administration in carrying out this
mission. Please can you send a formal response within three weeks from the date of this letter.
Please be assured, Your Excellency, of my highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
(E-signed)
Maja Markovčić Kostelac
Executive Director
Cc: Ms M. Kopczynska (DG MOVE)
Page 2 of 2
Electronically signed on 24/05/2019 18:10 (UTC+02)
Ref. Ares(2019)3442798 - 27/05/2019
Mr Rene Arikas
Director General
Estonian Maritime Administration
Valge 4
11413 Tallinn
ESTONIA
Lisbon, 24 May 2019
Subject: Visit to Estonia to monitor the implementation of
Directive 2001/96/EC establishing harmonised requirements
and procedures for the safe loading and unloading of bulk
carriers
Dear Mr Arikas,
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter sent today to H.E. Ms Kaja Tael, Permanent Representative of
Estonia to the European Union.
Please do not hesitate to contact my services if you have any questions regarding the arrangements for this
visit.
I would also be grateful if you would advise my services if you decide to invite other Member States to
participate in the visit as observers, as envisaged in the Methodology for Visits to Member States.
Yours sincerely,
(E-signed)
Maja Markovčić Kostelac
Executive Director
Encl.: 1
[email protected]
Electronically signed on 24/05/2019 18:10 (UTC+02) Tel +351 21 1209 256 / Fax +351 21 1209 212
EMSA, Praça Europa 4, 1249-206 Lisbon, Portugal / emsa.europa.eu