The amended Commission proposal on safety rules and standards for passenger ships includes in full
or in substance a certain number of amendments adopted by the European Parliament. The main
changes thus seek to:
- restrict the scope of the directive to existing passenger ships of 24 metres in length and above;
- change the name of the certificate from 'declaration of compliance' to 'passenger ship safety
certificate';
- provide that existing Class B ships carrying more than 36 passengers should comply with the
requirements set out in the directive not later than 1 October 2000 (instead of 1 October 1997);
- guarantee a more active participation by the host Member State when existing passenger ships of
Class C and D flying the flag of another Member State carry out domestic voyages in the host State;
- provide that ships must conform not only to the requirements of the directive but also to any
national safety requirements which are derived from specific local conditions and are subject to
Commission approval.
�