Article 1U.K.Scope
1.This Directive applies to ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft operating:
(a)on a regular service between a port of a Member State and a port of a third country where the flag of the vessel is the same as that of the Member State in question; or
(b)on a regular service on domestic voyages in sea areas in which ships of Class A may operate in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(1).
2.This Directive does not apply to ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft falling under Directive 2009/16/EC.
3.Member States may apply this Directive to ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft operating on a regular service on domestic voyages in sea areas other than those referred to in paragraph 1(b).
4.Member States which do not have seaports and which can verify that of the total number of individual vessels calling annually over a period of the 3 previous years at their river ports, less than 5 % are passenger ships or high-speed passenger craft covered by this Directive, may derogate from the provisions of this Directive except for the obligation set out in the second subparagraph.
Those Member States which do not have seaports shall communicate to the Commission by 21 December 2019 the total number of vessels and the number of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft calling at their ports during the 3-year period referred to in the first subparagraph and shall inform the Commission annually thereafter of any subsequent change to the abovementioned figures.
Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (OJ L 163, 25.6.2009, p. 1).