Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system and repealing Council Directive 93/75/EEC.

The purpose of this Directive is to establish within the Community a vessel traffic monitoring and information system in order to enhance the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic, improve the response of authorities to incidents or potentially dangerous situations at sea and contribute to a better prevention and detection of pollution by ships. The application scope is defined by article 2, which establishes the ships to which these provisions shall apply. The Directive consists of the following four Titles: (I) Ship reporting and monitoring; (II) Notification of dangerous or polluting goods on board ships; (III) Monitoring of hazardous ships and intervention in the event of incidents and accidents at sea; (IV) Accompanying measures. Further, four Annexes are attached: (I) List of information to be notified; (II) Prescriptions applicable to on-board equipment; (III) Electronic messages; (IV) Measures available to Member States in the event of a threat to maritime safety and the protection of the environment.