Article 1 Purpose

The purpose of this Directive is to enhance the safety of bulk carriers calling at terminals in the Member States in order to load or unload solid bulk cargoes, by reducing the risks of excessive stresses and physical damage to the ship's structure during loading or unloading, through the establishment of:

1. 1..

   harmonised suitability requirements for those ships and terminals; and

2. 2..

   harmonised procedures for cooperation and communication between those ships and terminals.