Exceptions to the pre-commencement inspection obligation
Article 4
1. In the case of pre-commencement inspections, a Member State may decide not to apply certain requirements or procedures in Annexes I and II relevant to any annual flag State survey or inspection carried out within the previous 6 months, provided that relevant procedures and guidelines for surveys specified in HSSC or procedures designed to achieve the same goal have been followed. Member States shall transfer the relevant information to the inspection database in accordance with Article 10. 2. When a ro-ro passenger ship or high-speed passenger craft is to be engaged on a regular service, the Member State may take into account inspections and surveys previously carried out in respect of that ro-ro passenger ship or high-speed passenger craft for operation on another regular service covered by this Directive. Provided that the Member State is satisfied with those previous inspections and surveys and that they are relevant to the new operational conditions, the inspections provided for in Article 3(1) do not need to be applied before the ro-ro passenger ship or high-speed passenger craft starts operating on the new regular service. 3. At the request of a company, Member States may confirm in advance that they agree that the previous inspections and surveys are relevant to the new operational conditions. 4. Where, due to unforeseen circumstances, there is an urgent need for the rapid introduction of a replacement ro-ro passenger ship or high-speed passenger craft to ensure continuity of service, and paragraph 2 does not apply, the Member State may allow the ro-ro passenger ship or craft to start operating provided that the following conditions are met: (a) a visual inspection and document check raises no concerns that the ro-ro passenger ship or high-speed passenger craft does not fulfil the necessary requirements for safe operation; and (b) the Member State completes the pre-commencement inspection provided for in Article 3(1) within 1 month.