Last month, the European Union (EU) adopted Directive 2023/946, which amends the ‘water on deck’ damage stability requirements for ropaxes (Directive 2003/25/EC).
This new Directive is intended to align the EU’s stability requirements with the enhanced standards established by SOLAS 2020, Lloyd’s Register (LR) advised.
Since 5th December, 2024, the new directive has been applicable for new and existing ropaxes engaged on international voyages that operate regularly to or from a port of an EU member state, and which have never been certified in accordance with this directive or the previous Directive 2003/25/EC.
These ships are to comply with the specific damage stability requirements set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2020.
New ropaxes certified to carry more than 1,350 pax are to comply with the deterministic damage stability requirements of Directive 2003/25/EC, as outlined in Annex I, section A of Directive 2023/946, or (as an alternative) the specific damage stability requirements set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2020, based on an increased required index R as outlined in Annex I, section B of Directive 2023/946.
Existing ropaxes, which have not been certified in accordance with this Directive must comply with the specific damage stability requirements set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2020, or (as an alternative) the deterministic damage stability requirements of Directive 2003/25/EC, as outlined in Annex I, section A of Directive 2023/946, in addition to those set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2009.
Ships certified to carry 1,350 people or fewer are to comply with the deterministic damage stability requirements of Directive 2003/25/EC, as outlined in Annex I, section A of Directive 2023/946, or (as an alternative) the specific damage stability requirements set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2020 based on an increased required index R as outlined in Annex I, section B of Directive 2023/946.
LR advised that shipowners and ship operators must be aware that, as of 5th December, 2024, ropaxes that are intended to operate in EU ports on international voyages must comply with these new damage stability requirements.
