Article 7
Amendment to Directive 98/18/EC Directive 98/18/EC is hereby amended as follows: 1. in Article 2, points (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) shall be replaced by the following: "(a) 'International Conventions' means the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the 1974 Solas Convention), and the 1966 International Convention on Load Lines, together with Protocols and amendments thereto, in their up-to-date versions; (b) 'Intact Stability Code' means the 'Code on Intact Stability for all types of ships covered by IMO Instruments' contained in IMO Assembly Resolution A.749(18) of 4 November 1993, in its up-to-date version; (c) 'High Speed Craft Code' means the 'International Code for Safety of High Speed Craft' contained in IMO Maritime Safety Committee Resolution MSC 36 (63) of 20 May 1994, in its up-to-date version; (d) 'GMDSS' means the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System as laid down in Chapter IV of the 1974 Solas Convention, in its up-to-date version; (...) (f) 'a high speed passenger craft' means a high speed craft as defined in Regulation X/1 of the 1974 Solas Convention, in its up-to-date version, which carries more than 12 passengers; passenger ships engaged on domestic voyages in sea areas of Class B, C or D shall not be considered as high speed passenger craft when: - their displacement corresponding to the design waterline is less than 500 m3, and - their maximum speed, as defined in paragraph 1.4.30 of the High Speed Craft Code, is less than 20 knots;" 2. in Article 6(1), points (b) and (c), Article 6(2), point (a)(i), and Article 6(3), point (a), the words as amended at the date of adoption of this Directive shall be replaced by in its up-to-date version; 3. Article 8 shall be replaced by the following: "Article 8 Adaptations In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 9(2): (a) (i) the definitions in Article 2(a), (b), (c), (d) and (t); and (ii) the provisions relating to procedures and guidelines for surveys referred to in Article 10; (iii) the provisions concerning the Solas Convention and the International Code of Safety of High Speed Craft, and including its subsequent amendments laid down in Articles 4.3, 6.4, 10.3 and 11.3; and (iv) the specific references to the 'International Conventions' and IMO resolutions referred to in Articles 2(f), (k) and (o), 3.2(a), 6.1(b) and (c), 6.2(b) and 11.3, may be adapted in order to take account of developments at international level, in particular within IMO; (b) Annexes may be amended in order to: (i) apply, for the purpose of this Directive, amendments made to international conventions; (ii) improve the technical specifications thereof, in the light of experience. The amendments to the international instruments referred to in Article 2 may be excluded from the scope of this Directive, pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 November 2002 establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS)(27)."; 4. Article 9 shall be replaced by the following: "Article 9 Committee 1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) created by Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(28) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months. 3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure."