Case C‑570/19

Irish Ferries Ltd

v

National Transport Authority

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the High Court (Ireland))

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 2 September 2021

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Maritime transport – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 – Articles 18 and 19, Article 20(4), and Articles 24 and 25 – Cancellation of passenger services – Late delivery of a vessel to the carrier – Notice given prior to the originally scheduled date of departure – Consequences – Right to re-routing – Procedures – Payment of the additional costs – Right to compensation – Calculation – Concept of ticket price – National body responsible for the enforcement of Regulation No 1177/2010 – Competence – Concept of a complaint – Assessment of validity – Articles 16, 17, 20 and 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Principles of proportionality, legal certainty and equal treatment)

1. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Scope

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 2, first para., 18 and 19)

   (see paragraphs 53, 55, 58, operative part 1)

2. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellation of a passenger service

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 18 and 19)

   (see paragraphs 69, 74, operative part 2)

3. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Right to compensation

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 18 and 19)

   (see paragraphs 87-90, operative part 3)

4. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Ticket price – Concept

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 18 and 19)

   (see paragraphs 95, 97, 99, operative part 4)

5. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellation of a passenger service – Exemption from the obligation to pay compensation – Conditions

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 3, 18, 19 and 20, fourth para.)

   (see paragraphs 105, 107, 112, 113, operative part 5)

6. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellation of a passenger service – Obligation for passengers to submit a request for compensation within two months from the actual or the originally scheduled date of the passenger service – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Arts 19 and 24)

   (see paragraphs 119-122, operative part 6)

7. Transport – Maritime transport – Regulation No 1177/2010 – Rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway – Complete cancellation of a return journey scheduled to depart from a first Member State – Obligation to offer a passenger service from a port situated in the territory of another Member State to the first Member State

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1177/2010, Art. 25)

   (see paragraphs 126, 127, 130, operative part 7)

See the text of the decision.