The European Commission proposed a range of measures on Wednesday aimed at improving shipping safety standards, including the creation of a European Maritime Safety Agency. "With these proposals ... we will be able to guarantee a European level of maritime safety in the future," an EU Transport official said. In addition to the new agency, which would check that ship inspection standards were being respected throughout the EU, the Commission proposed a new oil spill compensation fund, compulsory "black box" ship data recorders and stronger powers for national coastal authorities. The package of measures is the second set of proposed EU legislation on shipping safety since the Erika oil tanker ran aground off northern France one year ago.