On 23 July 2026, the European Commission published a proposal to codify Directive 2003/25/EC on specific stability requirements for ro-ro passenger ships, merging the original directive and all subsequent amendments into a single, clear text without altering any substantive provisions. The codification affects all ro-ro passenger ships operating on regular international voyages to or from a Member State port, regardless of flag, and aims to improve legal clarity and accessibility for stakeholders.
The proposal, designated COM(2026)386, is a pure codification exercise that fully preserves the content of Directive 2003/25/EC and its amending acts. It applies to all ro-ro passenger ships on regular international services to or from a Member State port, irrespective of flag (Article 3(1)). Member States without seaports and with no such ships flying their flag may derogate, but must notify the Commission by 5 December 2024 if conditions are met (Article 3(3)). Port States must ensure non-Member State flagged ships comply before operating from their ports (Article 3(2)). The directive includes specific stability requirements linked to significant wave heights in sea areas, based on the Stockholm Agreement (recitals 11-14). For ships certified to carry 1,350 or fewer persons, optional application of SOLAS 2020 requirements is conditional on a higher R-index (recital 17). The Commission may adopt delegated acts to amend annexes (recital 29), and Member States must provide data on new ships carrying 1,350 or fewer persons (recital 27).
As a codification, the proposal introduces no new rules, requirements, or policy changes. Its primary impact is on legal clarity: ship operators, national authorities, and legal practitioners will benefit from a consolidated text that replaces the fragmented layers of amendments accumulated over two decades. For ro-ro passenger ship operators, the codification means no change in compliance obligations, but easier access to the applicable rules. National maritime authorities will need to update their references and transposition measures to reflect the new directive number once adopted. Landlocked Member States meeting the derogation conditions remain exempt. The proposal has no direct impact on consumers or the environment, as the underlying stability requirements remain unchanged.
The proposal now passes to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure. Given its purely technical nature, swift approval is expected, with the codified directive likely to enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.