Following the Erica and Prestige disasters the EU introduced new legislation through the Directive 2001/106/EC, which came into effect on 22 July 2003.
The directive introduced the concept of Mandatory Expanded Inspections (MEI’s) on “high risk ships." The directive requires that high-risk ships must have a mandatory expanded inspection carried out by an EU member of the Paris MOU region every 12 months.

The following vessels are identified as high-risk:

• Oil tankers over 15 years of age and over 3000 GT;
• Gas and chemical tankers over 10 years of age; 
• Bulk Carriers over 12 years of age;
• Passenger ships over 15 years of age (excluding those covered by the Ferry Directive, 1999/35/EC).
  

If a vessel is classed as high risk, as defined above, and it is more than 12 months since a Port State Control Inspector in the Paris MOU Region carried out a mandatory expanded inspection, then the Master (directly or through his ships agent) must report that the vessel is eligible for a Mandatory Expanded Inspection.  
Information must be provided 3 days before the expected time of arrival, or before leaving the previous port if the voyage is expected to take less than 3 days. 

Download the Notification Form below and sent it to the Netherlands Port State Control:
Fax: +31 (0)10 202 3520
E-mail psc@ivw.nl

Failure to report to the Port State that the vessel is eligible for a mandatory expanded inspection is an offence. A ship that has not provided advance information as required will be subject to a mandatory inspection and may risk delay due to the involved nature of the inspection. Also a fine may be imposed.