Ferry passengers will have better rights than airline passengers, the European Parliament boasted as it approved a wide-ranging European Union regulation due to come into force in 2012.
Maritime passengers will be compensated when sailings are delayed, not only when they are cancelled.
"Boat passengers (sic) will have more rights than currently stipulated under EU law for air passengers, as in the latter case there is no compensation for flight delays (only for cancellations)," the Parliament said after the bill was approved in the Strasbourg plenary.
Compensation will kick in following a departure delay of 90 minutes or more unless the delay is caused by bad weather or other factors beyond the operator's control.
"Under the new rules, when a regular passenger boat or ferry service is cancelled or over 90 minutes late in departing, the passengers will have the right to be rerouted (in order to reach the destination earlier) or to receive back the ticket cost and not to travel (or else to return to the initial port of departure at the company's cost)," the Parliament said in a statement after the vote.
Once approved by the Council of Ministers the new legislation should ensure disabled passengers are given free assistance in port, provided they give at least two days' notice. The law will cover all ferries with a capacity for 12 passengers or more with some exceptions, such as sightseeing trips and historical ships.
