This Directive aims to protect the health and safety of seafarers on board ships using European Union (EU) ports, combat distortions of competition from shipowners of non-EU countries and protect the health and safety of seafarers on board ships using EU ports.

All persons on board passenger ships departing from a port located within the EU must be counted prior to departure of the ship.

Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the practical implementation of Health and Safety at Work Directives 93/103/EC (fishing vessels) and 92/29/EEC (medical treatment on board vessels) (COM(2009) 599 final of 29.10.2009)

In accordance with that code the Regulation will oblige shipping companies to set up a "Safety Management System" under which they would: - establish a policy for the safe operation of its ships and the protection of the environment, - define the responsibilities of, and relations between, all persons responsible within the company and on board the ships for the safe operation of the ships and for pollution prevention, - designate a central person responsible for safe management and pollution prevention, - ensure that the safety personnel ashore, the masters of its ships and the crew are properly qualified and able to communicate with ea ...[+++]ch other on safety matters, - define shorebound and on board instructions, procedures and drills for the safe operation of the ships and for the response to emergency situations, - prepare procedures for the reporting and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous situations, - ensure proper maintenance of its ships and its equipment, - establish a "Safety Management Manual", - regularly evaluate the SMS, - obtain a "Document of Compliance" issued by the flag State or by the country of operation and certifying that the SMS of the company complies with the ISM-Code, - obtain a "Safety Management Certificate" issued by the flag State and certifying that the SMS of the ship complies with the ISM-Code.

The Arctic waters shipping prevention regulations deal with the construction of ships, specifically ice-strengthening requirements for different navigation zones, bunkering stations and ice navigator issues — for example, every tanker must have a qualified ice navigator on board — and fuel and water concerns, that there needs to be enough on board a vessel before entering any Arctic zones.

It recommends shipping companies to set up a "Safety Management System" under which they would: - establish a policy for the safe operation of its ships and the protection of the environment, - define the responsibilities of, and relations between, all persons responsible within the company and on board the ships for the safe operation of the ships and for pollution prevention, - designate a central person responsible for safe management and pollution prevention, - ensure that the safety personnel ashore, the masters of its ships and the crew are properly qualified and able to communicate with each other on safety matters, - define shore ...[+++]bound and on board instructions, procedures and drills for the safe operation of the ships and for the response to emergency situations, - prepare procedures for the reporting and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous situations, - ensure proper maintenance of its ships and its equipment, - establish a "Safety Management Manual", - regularly evaluate the SMS, - obtain a "Document of Compliance" issued by the flag State or by the country of operation and certifying that the SMS of the company complies with the ISM-Code, - obtain a "Safety Management Certificate" issued by the flag State and certifying that the SMS of the ship complies with the ISM-Code.