Rights of passengers travelling by sea and inland waterways

Passengers, including those with a disability or reduced mobility, travelling by sea and by inland waterways enjoy the same rights wherever they travel in the European Union (EU). These rights, including the right to information or compensation in the case of delay or cancellation, complement similar rights for air, rail, bus and coach passengers.

ACT

Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004

SUMMARY

Passengers, including those with a disability or reduced mobility, travelling by sea and by inland waterways enjoy the same rights wherever they travel in the European Union (EU). These rights, including the right to information or compensation in the case of delay or cancellation, complement similar rights for air, rail, bus and coach passengers.

WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?

It sets out the rights of all passengers, including the disabled and persons with reduced mobility, travelling by sea or inland waterway within the EU.

KEY POINTS

These rights apply to passengers travelling in the EU on large ferries and cruise ships on sea, rivers, lakes or canals.

They include:

• reimbursement or rerouting in situations of cancellation or of delay at departure of more than 90 minutes;
• adequate assistance e.g. meals, refreshments and, where necessary, accommodation for up to 3 nights in situations of cancellation or delay at departure of more than 90 minutes;
• compensation of between 25 % and 50 % of the ticket price in situations of delay in arrival or cancellation of journeys;
• non-discriminatory treatment and specific assistance free of charge for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility both at port terminals and on board ships, as well as financial compensation for loss or damage of their mobility equipment;
• adequate information on travel arrangements for all passengers before and during their journey, as well as general information about their rights in terminals and on board ships;
• establishment of a complaint-handling mechanism by carriers and terminal operators;
• establishment of independent national bodies to enforce the rights guaranteed under the regulation, including, where appropriate, the application of penalties.

Since 31 December 2012, Regulation (EC) No 392/2009 on the liability of carriers of passenger by sea also covers passengers in case of loss of damage resulting from an accident.

WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

From 18 December 2012.

BACKGROUND

European Commission website on passenger rights - sea transport

Following the COVID-19 outbreak and introducing measures to cope with the impact of the crisis, the European Commission adopted:

• Commission Notice Interpretative Guidelines on EU passenger rights regulations in the context of the developing situation with Covid-19
• Commission Recommendation (EU) 2020/648 of 13 May 2020 on vouchers offered to passengers and travellers as an alternative to reimbursement for cancelled package travel and transport services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EC) No 392/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents (OJ L 131, 28.5.2009, pp. 24-46)

last update 02.06.2020