S.L. 499.12 Art. 97Exemption of naval ships.

(1) The Authority may exempt a ship or bunker barge belonging to or forming part of the naval force of a country, from compliance with any or all of the provisions of these regulations.

(2) The Authority may exempt scheduled services performed between ports in Malta from the requirements laid down in regulations 12(1)(a) and 22(2) if -

(a) the company operating the scheduled services referred to in this regulation keeps and updates a list of ships concerned and sends it to the Authority; and

(b) for each voyage performed, carrying dangerous or polluting goods, the information listed in Schedule A is kept available for the Authority upon request, twenty-four hours a day and without delay. The company shall establish the system to ensure that the said information is submitted to the Authority in such format and by such means as required by the Authority.

(3) The Authority may exempt scheduled services performed between Malta and a port in another Member State from the requirements laid down in regulations 12(1)(a) and 22(2) if -

(a) the Authority agrees with the competent authority of the other Member State that such exemption is required;

(b) the company operating the scheduled services referred to in this regulation keeps and updates a list of ships concerned and sends it to the Authority;

(c) for each voyage performed, carrying dangerous or polluting goods, the information listed in Schedule A is kept available for the Authority upon request, twenty-four hours a day and without delay. The company shall establish the system to ensure that the said information is submitted to the Authority in such format and by such means as required by the Authority.

(4) Any deviations from the estimated time of arrival at a port of destination or pilot station in Malta of three hours or more must be notified to the Authority in accordance with the requirements laid down in regulation 12.

(5) The Authority holds the right that if a company, operating a scheduled service, is exempted under subregulations (2) and (3), fails to meet the established conditions, the Authority shall withdraw the privilege of the exemption from the company concerned.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation:

(a) the service shall not be regarded as a scheduled service unless it is intended to be operated for a minimum of one month;

(b) exemptions to regulations 12(1)(a) and 22(2) shall be limited to voyages of a scheduled duration of up to twelve hours; and

(c) exemptions shall only be granted to individual vessels as regards a specific service.