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France proposes tougher maritime transport rules in Europe

PARIS: Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on Tuesday set out a list of proposals aimed at tightening rules governing maritime transport in Europe, including refusing to allow vessels deemed dangerous to dock at European ports.

Two months after an aging tanker sank off northwestern France, tainting the Atlantic and the French coast, Jospin said that the environment should take precedence over financial gain.

"The preservation of a healthy environment, of the rights of those who work at sea and of those who live from its resources should take precedence over mercantile interests," Jospin said.

Jospin proposed that vessels transporting dangerous materials receive prior authorisation before entering European ports. Entry "could be refused," he said.

France is also proposing rigorous controls at European ports with a Europe-wide system overseeing security measures.

France also proposes increasing indemnities from the current 1.2 billion francs ($ 181 million) to (6.5 billion fracs $ 984 million) for oil spills, in part through a tax that would penalise oil importers using unfit tankers.

The French proposals are to be debated at a March 28 Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels.

French maritime transport operators signed a charter last Thursday aimed at tightening security on Europe's sea routes.

Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot said that charter opened "a new era of responsibility".

Among the 18 commitments in the charter, oil companies agreed not to use ships with single hulls from 2008Ña point Jospin incorporated in his Europe-wide proposals.

Ship owners promised to thoroughly examine ships older than 15 years every two and a half years. At present, they are only obliged to carry out such an examination every five years.

France has been urging stricter rules to govern shipping since the 24-year-old Maltese-registered tanker "Erika" split in two and sank on Dec. 12, spilling 3 million gallons (11.4 million liters) of heavy, gummy oil into the Atlantic.ÑAP