15.4.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 98/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2002/25/EC of 5 March 2002 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, Having regard to Council Directive 98/18/EC of 17 March 1998 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (1), and in particular Article 8, point (b) thereof, Whereas: (1)  For the purpose of Directive 9818 /EC, the international conventions, including the 1974 International Conven- tion for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) and other international codes and resolutions, for the safety rules and standards for passenger vessels, were in force on the date of the adoption of that Directive. (2) Amendments to the SOLAS Convention and to other international codes and resolutions have entered into force since the date of adoption of Directive 98/18/EC, or will enter into force shortly. (3)  Account should be taken of these new international instruments in Annex I to Directive 98/18/EC. (4)  Directive 98/18/EC should therefore be amended accord- ingly. () O] L 144, 15.5.1998, p. 1. (5)  The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 12(1) of Council Directive 93/75/EEC (3), as last amended by Commission Directive 98/74/EC (3), HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Annex [ 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 by 15 October 2002 at the latest. They shall forth- with notify the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference 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. (3 OJL247,5.10.1993, p. 19. (} OJL276,13.10.1998, p. 7.