The Commission's amended proposal took account of the European Parliament's amendments aimed at introducing more flexibility in the directive as long as it did not present any obstacles to the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships operating in areas characterised by dense traffic and weather and sailing conditions that were often hostile. To achieve this increased flexibility, the Commission made provision for exemptions and derogations which it would grant itself with the support of the advisory committee. As a result, it proposed replacing the definition of 'sheltered waters' with a definition of 'protected sea area', also adding the definition of 'regular service'.
Moreover, the Commission agreed to include a reference to the exact age of passengers in addition to the requirement to indicate the age category, whilst retaining the possibility of providing first names or initials (rather than first names alone).
The Commission could not accept the amendments aimed at:
- inserting new recitals;
- including a definition of 'seagoing passenger ship';
- ensuring that, in general, the master of the ship informed the company of the number of passengers on board and, for trips exceeding 20 miles, the passengers' personal details.
�