EN TORNO A LA REVISION DEL RÉGIMEN JURÍDICO INTERNACIONAL DE SEGURIDAD MARÍTIMA Y PROTECCIÓN DEL MEDIO MARINO A LA LUZ DEL ACCIDENTE DEL "PRESTIGE"

The Prestige's accident is the last example of a long series of marine accidents that have affected the cost of Galicia with very serious environmental and socio-economic consequences. For this reason, it raises again the question concerning which measures can be adopted by the coastal State in order to control the navigation of substandard ships in their maritime spaces, particularly in the EEZ, with the purpose of preventing possible acts of marine pollution. In the current international legal frame represented by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and in face of the reiterated passivity of the Flag State which is favoured by the existence of Flags of convenience, the scarce powers recognized to the coastal State within its EEZ do not allow him to carry out an effective task of control and prevention of all the risks posed by the navigation of substandard ships in front of its coast. This happens, as the Prestige's case clearly shows, in spite of the existence of Port State control mechanisms' established at a regional level, such as the Paris MOU or the European Union. In this situation, it seems necessary to proceed to an effective application of all the possibilities offered by the 1982 Convention to the coastal State, like the establishing of special protection areas or marine traffic systems. But, mainly, the Prestige's casualty raises the opportunity of proceeding to a revision of the EEZ legal régime that could grant the coastal State with wider control competences to protect its marine environment. This proposal which is supported by the existence of an important state practice, should be developed through agreed initiatives and cooperation in the regional frame. Also, all these measures should be completed with an strengthening of the Port State that allows this figure to take advantage of all the possibilities it offers. Le naufrage du Prestige est le dernier exemple d'une longue série d'accidents maritimes qui ont affecté les côtes de la Galice avec des graves conséquences écologiques et socio-économiques. Pour cette raison, il suscite de nouveau la question relative aux mesures dont dispose l'État riverain pour contrôler la navigation des navires sous-normes dans ses espaces maritimes, et spécialement dans la ZEE, dans le but de prévenir des possibles actes de pollution marine. Dans l'actuel cadre juridique-maritime international représenté par la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer de 1982, face à la pas