Safety rules and standards for passenger ships [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Marketa Pape (4th edition),

The European Commission, in line with its regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), has evaluated existing EU legislation on passenger ship safety and presented three proposals for directives, aimed at simplifying rules and cutting administrative costs, while at the same time making sea travel safer.

This proposal sought to clarify the technical requirements introduced by Directive 2009/45/EC, which vessels must respect in areas of construction, stability and fire protection. The newly defined standards should provide for uniform national interpretations and make the rules easier to update, monitor and enforce.

After the negotiations between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission concluded on 15 June 2017, the Parliament adopted the agreed text on 4 October 2017 and the Council on 23 October 2017. The deadline for Member States to transpose the final legislative act into their respective laws is 21 December 2019.

See also briefings on the related proposals, on passenger registration and vessel inspections.

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• Safety rules and standards for passenger ships