1.Member States may exempt scheduled services performed between port facilities located on their territory from the requirement laid down in Article 6 where the following conditions are met:
(a)the company operating the scheduled services referred to above keeps and updates a list of the ships concerned and sends it to the competent authority for maritime security for the port concerned,
(b)for each voyage performed, the information referred to in paragraph 2.1 of regulation 9 of the special measures to enhance maritime security of the SOLAS Convention is kept available for the competent authority for maritime security upon request. The company must establish an internal system to ensure that, upon request 24 hours a day and without delay, the said information can be sent to the competent authority for maritime security.
2.When an international scheduled service is operated between two or more Member States, any of the Member States involved may request of the other Member States that an exemption be granted to that service, in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 1.
3.Member States shall periodically check that the conditions laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 are being met. Where at least one of these conditions is no longer being met, Member States shall immediately withdraw the privilege of the exemption from the company concerned.
4.Member States shall draw up a list of companies and ships granted exemption under this Article, and shall update that list. They shall communicate the list and updates thereof to the Commission and any Member State concerned.
5.Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, a Member State may, on security grounds and on a case-by-case basis, request the provision of the information referred to in paragraph 2.1 of regulation 9 of the special measures to enhance maritime security of the SOLAS Convention prior to entry into a port.