The European Union has adopted Directive 2023/946, which amends the “water on deck” damage stability requirements for ro-ro passenger ships in Directive 2003/25/EC.
This new directive is intended to align the EU’s stability requirements with the enhanced standards established by SOLAS 2020.
Since 5 December 2024, the new directive 2023/946 is applicable for new and existing ro-ro passenger ships 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.
New ro-ro passenger ships certified to carry more than 1,350 persons:
These ships are to comply with the specific damage stability requirements set out in Chapter II-1, Part B of SOLAS 2020.
New ro-ro passenger ships certified to carry 1,350 or fewer persons:
These ships 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 ro-ro passenger ships certified to carry more than 1,350 persons:
Those ships which have never 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.
Existing ro-ro passenger ships certified to carry 1,350 or fewer persons:
Ships which have never been certified in accordance with this Directive 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.
Download the PDF: Lloyd’s Register Class News 01/2025