New regulations to offer more rights for ferry passengers

New regulations approved by the European Parliament this week will lead to more rights for ferry passengers.

Set to come into effect in 2012, the legislation will guarantee assistance and compensation if delays occur on passenger ferry or boat services.

If a crossing is cancelled or more than 90 minutes late in departing, customers will have the right to be rerouted to reach their destination earlier or to be refunded the cost of the ticket if they decide not to travel.

Snacks or meals will also be provided to members of the public wherever possible.

The regulations will only apply if the delay or cancellation is the direct responsibility of the operator and not caused by weather or other conditions outside the company's control.

Ferry companies could see a further boost in demand as a result of these guarantees for passengers, having already experienced an increase in traffic this year following the aviation crisis caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Stena Line announced last month that it is expecting a record summer season, while Irish Ferries and P&O also benefited from the airline cancellations.

Posted by Andrew Smith