Members of the European Parliament are expected to approve expanded powers for the European Maritime Safety Agency this week. The debate took place on Wednesday, with a vote scheduled for Thursday.
New EMSA powers target safer seas and reduced emissions
The updated EMSA mandate was agreed by Council and Parliament negotiators in June 2025 and confirmed by the Council in October 2025.
The new framework will enable the Agency to assist EU member states in enhancing maritime situational awareness amid geopolitical tensions, the emergence of shadow fleets, suspicious ship-to-ship transfers, and the deactivation of automatic identification systems on vessels.
Under the revised mandate, EMSA will focus on maintaining high standards of maritime safety and security, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from ships, and preventing pollution originating from maritime transport. The Agency will also work to reduce administrative burdens and promote digital solutions within the sector.
The review of EMSA’s mandate forms part of the maritime safety package presented by the European Commission in June 2023. The package aims to modernise and strengthen EU maritime safety and pollution-prevention rules. Four of the five proposals under this initiative were adopted in April 2024.
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union, established in 2002 and based in Lisbon,Portugal. It provides technical and operational support to the European Commission and EU member states in the field of maritime safety, security, and pollution prevention. EMSA operates vessel monitoring systems and assists in maritime accident response and pollution control.
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Source: portnews
