EMSA's mission is to reduce the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human life at sea. In order to accomplish its tasks and mandate, the mission statements of various units are as follows:
Reporting to the Administrative Board, the Executive Director is responsible for the setting up, running and development of the Agency.
Support to the Director in all areas under his responsibility, including policy and communication.
The mission of Department A – Corporate services is to provide high quality and timely support to EMSA's core operational business, and to assist management and staff in the areas of human resources, legal and financial affairs, information technology, facilities and logistics, meeting and conference management, protocol, and budget planning and monitoring.
To develop, implement and administer sound human resources management and personnel policies and procedures throughout EMSA, as well as implementation of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities. To offer advice to management staff on these matters.
A.1.1 HUMAN RESOURCES
Development, implementation and support of staff policy in the areas of: recruitment, administration of current staff, development and training, remuneration and staff welfare. Implementation and support to staff for all rights regarding the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities.
A.1.2 EVENTS & MISSIONS SUPPORT
Technical and logistical support to events organised by EMSA and processing of Missions Reimbursements.
Advice to the Executive Director in Legal, Budgetary and Financial Affairs; financial and Legal verification of budgetary and financial transactions; preparation and monitoring of the budget of the Agency.
A.2.1 LEGAL AFFAIRS:
Legal advice to the Excecutive Director, maintaining and developing the EMSA Manual; legal verification of procurement procedures and legal commitments, developing guidelines on procurement, advice to EMSA staff in procurement issues.
A.2.2 BUDGET AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS:
Preparation and monitoring of the budget according to the Financial Regulations and implementing rules, acting as an internal control; ex-ante financial verification of commitments, payments, recovery orders; initiation of credit operations and transfers; advice to EMSA staff in financial and budgetary issues.
A.2.3 FACILITIES AND LOGISTICS
A.2.3 provides mail handling, transport, print and facility management services. It is also responsible for the supervision and coordination of contractors regarding cleaning, maintenance and the security of the premises.
Responsible for Information and Telecommunications, Office Facilities & Logistics, Procurement & Financial Assistance regarding contract matters.
A.3.1 ICT OPERATIONS
Formulation and implementation of ICT policies including procurement. Formulation and implementation of ICT architecture; design, procure, install, manage & maintain ICT infrastructure including help desk & hosting centre for Maritime Applications. Form and implement ICT Architecture and Policy for Maritime Applications & provide support for Operational Units during specification, procurement & implementation of Maritime Applications.
A.3.2 PROJECT DELIVERY
The primary focus of this sector is enterprise architecture and application lifecycle management, i.e. to ensure the delivery of ICT projects within an agreed time and budget, with agreed scope and quality. While the relevant operational unit in the Agency is responsible for the functional specifications, follow-up, testing and acceptance of systems (i.e. the business logic), A.3.2 is responsible for all ICT tender and project management activities and verification & validation of non-functional requirements (performance, reliability, scalability etc.). A.3.2 is also responsible for an ICT security audit of the project.
In addition, A.3.2 is tasked with all database and middleware administration and installation, configuration and integration of applications within the EMSA ICT Infrastructure (including the Business Continuity Facility) and ICT service platforms (single sign-on, LifeRay Portals, Enterprise Service Bus, nautical maps, etc.). Finally, A.3.2 also manages and operates the ICT service platforms.
Reporting to the Executive Director, this department is responsible for the verification and monitoring of the implementation of maritime safety legislation falling under the remit of the Agency.
Supporting the Head of Department are two functions: one supporting budget planning and monitoring; and the other carrying out horizontal analysis in relation to the implementation of relevant legislation, in particular reporting on the outcome of the visits and inspections cycles undertaken by the Agency.
Responsible for the activities as set out in Regulation (EC) 1406/2002 in the fields of classification societies, the training of seafarers, maritime security and visits to Member States to monitor their implementation of Community maritime legislation.
B.1.1 VISITS TO MEMBER STATES
To organise and conduct assessments of the implementation by the Member States of EU maritime Regulations and Directives, in cooperation with the EMSA Unit having specific responsibility for that legislation.
B.1.2 ASSESSMENT OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES
To organise and conduct assessments of Classification Societies that are already recognised, or are proposed for recognition, under Directive 94/57/EC and to assess the quality of work done by other inspection and certification bodies in related fields.
B.1.3 TRAINING OF SEAFARERS
To conduct inspections, using a common methodology, in Member States and third Countries under Directive 2001/25/EC; to maintain an information system on education, training and certification of seafarers and to assist the Commission on related matters.
B.1.4 MARITIME SECURITY
To assist the Commission in its monitoring of Member States' implementation of the maritime security requirements under Regulation (EC) 725/2004, by providing technical assistance in its inspections of ships, relevant companies and Recognised Security Organisations.
Responsible for providing technical assistance to the European Commission on matters regarding the application and possible amendments to EU legislation falling under the scope of the EMSA Regulation, as amended.
B.2.1 SHIP SAFETY AND MARINE EQUIPMENT
Technical advice and co-operation in implementing Community Legislation concerning passenger ship safety, fishing vessels, bulk carrier safety and oil tanker safety and to carry out the tasks of the Directive 96/98 on marine equipment as amended.
B.2.2 PORT STATE CONTROL
To work with the European Commission and Member States' experts on technical issues regarding the implementation of Directive 2009/16/EC and its implementing regulations on port state control. Participation in technical working groups of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding and assessment of the implementation of port state control in Member States. Hosting, support, development and operation of the supporting information system. Provision of training for PSC Officers aiming at harmonisation within the Paris MoU region as mentioned in the Directive.
B.2.3 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
To develop a common methodology for investigating maritime accidents in conformity with agreed international principles, to support Member States in the investigation of serious maritime accidents, to analyse existing investigation reports, to promote the optimal exchange of findings from investigations between Member States and to create a European database on maritime accidentsUnit B.3 - Marine Environment, Training and Statistics.
Responsible for providing technical assistance to the European Commission and the Member States on matters regarding the application and possible amendments to EU legislation falling under the scope of the EMSA Regulation, as amended.
B.3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
To provide technical, operational and scientific assistance to the European Commission and Member States in the field of prevention of pollution caused by ships including, but not limited to the development and implementation of existing or proposed international and EU legislation in respect of e.g. the provision and use of port waste reception facilities, minimising waste on board ships, ship recycling, air pollution (including alternative emission abatement methods and alternative fuels), greenhouse gas emissions, ballast water management, leachates from anti fouling paints, sanctions for ship source pollution and the rules on liability and compensation.
B.3.2 TRAINING AND COOPERATION
The provision of training courses and activities on all the subjects in EMSA's mandate: maritime security, traffic monitoring, port reception facilities, environmental protection, marine equipment, pollution response, etc. Training is provided to seminars the EU Member States, Candidate Countries, Potential Candidate Countries, Norway and Iceland, through workshops, experts' visits and information days.
To foster co-operation on these matters between Member States, and to assist them in the areas where they need support. These areas are identified through the Consultative Network on Technical Assistance, which brings together representatives from the Maritime Administrations of the 27 EU Member States.
B.3.3 EQUASIS AND STATISTICS
To access, collect, analyze and disseminate safety-related information on ships and their operations. Objective, reliable and relevant information is produced for the benefit of the Agency, the Commission, the Member States and the maritime community more generally. This includes developing methodological tools to enhance maritime knowledge and hence contributing to more transparency of maritime information.
This Department provides operational assistance to Member States and the Commission in the field of preparedness and response to at-sea pollution. In addition, Department C facilitates technical cooperation between Member States and the Commission for EU vessel traffic monitoring, the Long Range Identification and Tracking of vessels, and satellite monitoring. The Department also provides a platform for integrated services, tailored to user requirements.
The Department is composed of three units, and also has a horizontal "coordination and support" cell.
Unit C1 provides Member States and the Commission with technical, operational and scientific assistance in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution by ships and oil and gas installations, and, upon request, delivers support in a cost-efficient way to the anti-pollution mechanisms of Member States..
C.1.1 COPERATION AND INFORMATION
C.1.1 develops and coordinates cooperative activities in the field of marine pollution preparedness and response, with clients being the European Commission services, the EU Member States and other relevant organisations. More specifically, the Sector prepares and disseminates scientific and technical information on oil spill response options, including the use of chemical dispersants and implements EMSA's Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Action Plan through activities such as maintaining the MAR-ICE Network.
Following the latest revision of EMSA's Founding Regulation, the Sector also coordinates the development of the Agency's activities with regard to the response to marine pollution originating from offshore oil and gas installations.
C.1.2 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT & PLANNING
C.1.2 manages and develops the contracts necessary to establish the EMSA Stand-by Oil Spill Response Vessel Network for European waters, addressing any contract related financial and legal aspects. This is achieved through the development and coordination of complex public procurement procedures, as well as constant reviews and updating the financial and strategic planning.
C.1.3 RESPONSE ASSISTANCE
C.1.3 tasks include: participating in international oil spill response exercises; training responders and verifying the readiness of arrangements; conducting studies addressing the technical and operational status of the vessel network; and implementing improvements when appropriate. The Sector participates in the technical meetings of the Regional Agreements, and provides, upon request, the Member States and the Commission with technical and scientific assistance in support of spill response operations, either onsite or remotely.
Unit C.2 facilitates technical cooperation between Member States and the Commission for the exchange of EU vessel traffic information, and to support EU operational reporting services, including the electronic transmission of reporting formalities.
C.2.1 SAFESEANET SERVICES
C.2.1 cooperates with Member States and the EU institutions to implement, maintain and develop the EU vessel traffic monitoring initiatives in the fields covered by Directive 2002/59/EC (as amended) and Directive 2010/65/EU, in particular through cooperating with Member States to operate SafeSeaNet, the European vessel traffic monitoring and information system. C.2.1 also supports the Member States in the development of the single window in line with the obligations under Directive 2010/65/EU.
C.2.2 MARITIME SUPPORT SERVICES
C.2.2 supports Member States and EU institutions by providing, through the Maritime Support Services (MSS), operational management and support for the EU core traffic monitoring systems (LRIT, SSN, incident alerts, etc.), and for the CleanSeaNet satellite based monitoring service. The MSS also serves as a 24/7 single point of contact for all operational maritime services and for activation of emergency assistance in case of an accident or incident.
Unit C.3 is responsible for developing and operating satellite-based monitoring services supporting the Agency's tasks in the fields of ship traffic monitoring (Directive 2002/59/EC as amended) and oil spill monitoring and tracing of illegal discharges (Directive 2005/35/EC as amended). In addition, the unit is tasked with the integration of data generated by EMSA operational systems within an Integrated Maritime Data Environment platform. In particular, the unit is in charge of the following projects: EMSA Integrated Maritime Data Environment (IMDatE); the European satellite oil spill and vessel monitoring service CleanSeaNet (CSN); the European Union Long Range Identification and Tracking Cooperative Data Centre (EU LRIT CDC); and the LRIT International Data Exchange (IDE).
C.3.1 Integrated Maritime Services
C.3.1 is responsible for coordinated management of user requirements for integrated maritime services and for ensuring the suitability, timeliness and adaptation of EMSA maritime services to user needs. The sector also manages the development and implementation of a highly flexible and agile technical and operational platform, designed to link and interface all EMSA systems and databases into an Integrated Maritime Data Environment. Associated tasks include development of technical ICT modules, testing and using new integration technologies and harmonised operational procedures, ingestion of new data streams (satellite AIS, radar, optical images), organizing meetings and workshops with different user communities, collecting and translating their requirements in functional specifications of service, ensuring correct configuration of new services in accordance with requirements, collecting users' feedback for improvement, preparing and delivering training for new services/functionalities, and supporting the integration of EMSA services with other EU maritime projects and systems. The section also supports the development of an EU satellite AIS network, both through new ESA-EMSA satellites development programme and by linking existing national satellite AIS initiatives at EU level.
C.3.2 EARTH OBSERVATION SERVICES
C.3.2 is responsible for the development and operation of the CleanSeaNet service. Work includes: the monthly planning, ordering and acquisition of satellite images following coordination of requests from Member States for routine monitoring of European waters; developing new functionalities for the CleanSeaNet service (modelling, integration of AIS-information, hydro- meteorological data); organising training, workshops and other support in the fields of oil spill monitoring and the law enforcement chain dealing with illegal discharges at sea. User Group meetings are organised on a regular basis, feedback and results are analysed together with users, and related statistics are produced each year. CleanSeaNet also provides satellite monitoring assistance in case of maritime emergencies and supports the activities of the EU Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme.
C.3.3 LRIT Services
C.3.3 is responsible for the setting up, operation and maintenance of the European Union Long Range Identification and Tracking Cooperative Data Centre (EU LRIT CDC) and the LRIT International Data Exchange (LRIT IDE) . The team provides technical assistance to the European Commission and Member States for the LRIT issues within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and representing the IDE within the IMO LRIT Operational Governance body. These tasks also include providing a second level Helpdesk, supporting the 24/7 Maritime Support Services, monitoring performance and performing testing, organising training, workshops and other support activities. C.3.3 is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the associated LRIT Invoicing and Billing system and for the preparation and conducting of annual auditing of the EU LRIT CDC and IDE by the LRIT Coordinator (IMSO).
Tagline: Quality shipping, safer seas, cleaner oceansSet up in 2002, over 200 employeesHeadquartered in Lisbon, PortugalBudget (2013): € 58.8mOne of 32 Agencies of the EU