Commission Directive 2003/75/EC of 29 July 2003 amending Annex I to Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (Text with EEA relevance)

Commission Directive 2003/75/EC
of 29 July 2003
amending Annex I to Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 98/18/EC of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships(1), and in particular Article 8(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Directive 98/18/EC of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships applies to new and existing ships on domestic service according to the requirements of Annex I.
(2) Chapter III, section 5-1 of Annex I to Directive 98/18/EC required modification to life-rafts, fast rescue boats, means of rescue and life jackets on existing ro-ro ships not later than the date of the first periodical survey after 1 July 2000.
(3) Commission Directive 2002/25/EC of 5 March 2002 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships(2) required further modification of the same equipment by 1 January 2003.
(4) The corresponding SOLAS requirement allows for modifications of existing ships to take place at the time of major repairs, alterations or replacement of life-saving equipment.
(5) Directive 98/18/EC should therefore be amended to allow a reasonable deadline for applying these specific new requirements to existing ro-ro ships.
(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe Seas, set up pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002(3),