The employment of duly accredited private armed guards should be allowed in Member States, subject to a strict legal framework which makes the training of guards, inter alia, the responsibility of the Member State of their establishment and sets up the terms of the master's responsibility, particularly in the event of shots being fired.

Internal Coast Guard documents reveal that on October 28 all Coast Guard vessels on the west coast were advised that “all uniform clothing requisitions dated from October 1, 2002, will not be processed until further notice”.

1. When a trigger by-catch level has been detected by any fishery protection vessel of the coastal Member State or that is participating in a joint operation under a Joint Deployment Plan, the fishery protection vessel shall inform without delay the competent authorities of the coastal Member State.

It is also positive that the report emphasises the need for more attention to be paid to the maintenance of ships and to their condition, even in the case of double-hulled vessels, which may represent a greater potential hazard; that it advocates agreements under the auspices of the IMO on the speedy and independent investigation of shipping disasters; that it calls on the coastal Member States to establish a clear and independent decision-making and command structure for dealing with maritime emergencies; that it calls for an investigation of the scope for introducing mandatory insurance; for financial compensation for places of ref ...[+++]uge; for a system of penalties to combat illegal discharges; for an audit of the classification societies; and for the Member States to transpose the relevant Community directives and to ratify the international conventions; for the training of seafarers; and to retain the dignity of the seafaring professions.

(7a) Having a transponder and a voyage data recorder (black box) on board is not in itself enough to prevent accidents; the level of training and competence of the crew is equally important. Member States must ensure therefore that there are enough shore staff, particularly in vessel traffic services, coastal stations and rescue services, and that they are properly trained;

Senator Banks: I do not mean they need to be at the same standard in every respect, but if we were to send a Fisheries and Oceans vessel, a Coast Guard vessel and a naval vessel to look after the same situation — maybe three different aspects of it — at sea, they cannot now operate as a group and talk to each other from one command centre, as I understand it.