L 190/6 Official Journal of the European Union 30.7.2003 COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2003/75/EC of 29 July 2003 amending Annex I to Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 98/18/EC of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (!), and in particular Article 8(b) thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Directive 98/18/EC of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships applies to new and existing ships on domestic service according to the requirements of Annex L (2)  Chapter III, section 5-1 of Annex I to Directive 9818/ EC required modification to life-rafts, fast rescue boats, means of rescue and life jackets on existing ro-ro ships not later than the date of the first periodical survey after 1 July 2000. (3)  Commission Directive 2002/25/EC of 5 March 2002 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships () required further modification of the same equipment by 1 January 2003. (4)  The corresponding SOLAS requirement allows for modi- fications of existing ships to take place at the time of major repairs, alterations or replacement of life-saving equipment. (5)  Directive 98/18/EC should therefore be amended to allow a reasonable deadline for applying these specific new requirements to existing ro-ro ships. (6)  The measures provided for in this Directive are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe Seas, set up pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 (%), O] L 144, 15.5.1998, p. 1. () OJ L 98, 15.4.2002, p. 1. O] L 324,29.11.2002, p. 1. HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Chapter III, section 5-1 of Annex I to Directive 98/18/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Directive. Article 2 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within six months after its date of entry into force at the latest. They shall forthwith notify the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a refer- ence on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the provisions of national law, which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. Atticle 3 This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publica- tion in the Official Journal of the European Union. Atrticle 4 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 29 July 2003. For the Commission Loyola DE PALACIO Vice-president