Conditions of Carriage Travemünde-Helsinki-Travemünde, Helsinki- Gdynia- Rostock- Gdynia- Helsinki

FINNLINES PLC´s STANDARD CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS, THEIR LUGGAGE AND ACCOMPANYING VEHICLES

1. CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE: STANDARD CONDITIONS AND PARTIES
The carrier is Finnlines Plc, Helsinki and the contract of carriage evidenced by the ticket containing these standard conditions of carriage is between Finnlines Plc (hereinbelow Finnlines) and the passenger.
2. SCOPE OF APPLICATION
These Finnlines standard conditions of carriage as well as the provisions of the Act referred to in clause 19 below shall govern the carriage by sea of passenger and luggage (including hand cabin-baggage, any accompanying article and or vehicle and or caravan that are carried without other shipping document issued by Finnlines). Carriage by sea covers the period which the passenger and his luggage, are in the terminal area in the port of departure after checking in with Finnlines, on board the vessel or in the Finnlines terminal area in the port of destination. Finnlines does not sell package voyages nor act as a tour organiser.

3. RESERVATIONS
Reservations from travel agencies, online service or in Finland Finnlines phone +358 (0)10 343 4500 or +358 (0)10 343 4600, e-mail: passenger@finnlines.com or in Germany Finnlines Passagierdienst (Finnlines Deutschland GmbH), phone +49 4502 805-43, fax +49 4502 805-44, e-mail: passagierdienst@finnlines.com.
INFORMATION ON PASSENGERS: The following information concerning all passengers must be provided when a reservation is made: surname, given name(s), gender, full date of birth and nationality as well as, at the passenger´s request any impairment of mobility that could be of significance in relation to rescue measures (statutory passenger registration). Passengers´ personal data are handled in accordance with the applicable law.
INFORMATION ON VEHICLES: The following information must be provided when a place for a vehicle is reserved: registration number, type of vehicle and vehicle dimensions, including any additional load affecting the dimensions of the vehicle. If it is established at the check-in that the dimensions of a vehicle exceed the figures provided when the reservation was made, an effort will be made to reserve a new place and the customer will be charged an additional fee in accordance with the price list. However, Finnlines cannot guarantee the availability of a new place. One passenger, with an appropriate driving license, can take only one vehicle.
PETS: see clause 10.
HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES INCLUDING FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS:
Transporting hazardous and dangerous substances as luggage or as hand cabin-baggage is not permitted, except gas cylinders connected to camper vans/caravans. The valves of gas cylinders must be kept closed throughout the time on board the ship.

4. CHANGING RESERVATIONS
Changes to a reservation may be made free of charge at the latest 30 days before the beginning of the voyage. For changes made later than this Finnlines charge EUR 20 per passenger for office expenses. If the new date of travel is in a period when higher fares apply, the difference between the fares is charged. If a reservation is changed and later cancelled, any cancellation fees are charged in accordance with the original date of travel and the date on which the reservation was changed.

5. TERMS OF PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
A voyage must be paid for 30 days prior to departure. If a reservation is made later than 30 days before departure, it must be paid for immediately. If a passenger cancels a voyage not later than 30 days before the announced departure of the vessel, the fare is reimbursed. If the passenger cancels the voyage 29-15 days prior to the vessel´s departure, 25% of the fare will be charged. If the passenger cancels the voyage 14-2 days prior to the vessel´s announced departure, 50% of the fare for the cancelled places will be charged. The full fare for the voyage will be charged for places cancelled later than 2 days before the announced departure date of the vessel.
A cancellation shall be deemed to have been made on the date on which it is received by Finnlines (see clause 3 for contact particulars). No refund shall be paid in cases of “no show´. If the return part of a two-way ticket is not used, the fare for a one-way voyage will
be deducted from the sum paid and a sum in accordance with the terms of cancellation will be reimbursed. A deduction of EUR 20 per passenger for office expenses is always made from the sum repaid.

6. CHANGES TO FARES AND TIMETABLES
Finnlines reserves the right to alter fares and timetables without prior notice. Times shown in timetables (departure, arrival and sailing time at sea) cannot be guaranteed. Finnlines assumes no liability for damages or costs incurred by passenger as a result of any changes, irrespective of the nature or type of these damages or costs, if the changes are due to weather conditions or other force majeure causes. Regarding Finnlines' liability, see clauses 15 and 19.

7. DISCOUNTS
Only one discount per passenger or one discount per vehicle. Documents indicating entitlement to any discount must be presented upon request. Discounts are not granted retrospectively.

8. CHILD FARES
The child fares indicated in the price tables apply to children (aged 6-12) travelling in the same cabin as their parents or guardian. Children under 6 without an own bed travel free of charge. A person travelling with a child under 6 must always reserve a separate cabin.

9. GROUPS
Separate terms of payment and cancellation apply to groups. Ten persons paying the full group fare shall be deemed to constitute a group. All of the members of a group must depart and return on the same date and be covered by a single invoice. Please enquire from Finnlines concerning more detailed group terms.

10. PETS
Live animals, except cats and dogs (hereinbelow referred as pets), are carried only upon Finnlines decision on a case – by – case basis. Arrangements to transport a pet must be made in conjunction with the reservation. Each vessel has a limited number of cabins for passengers travelling with pets. No more than 2 pets per cabin are allowed. A person travelling with a pet must reserve a whole cabin. Pets may not be taken into bars, restaurants or saunas on board the vessel and stay of pets in the other public interior quarters must be kept to minimum. The passenger travelling with a pet is liable for any damage caused by the pet. The passenger must have the documents required by the authorities. If the authorities refuse entry to a pet on board on the ground of inadequate documentation, liability for the costs thus incurred resides with the passenger. Regarding Finnlines´ liability for pets, see clauses 15, 16 and 19.

11. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: PASSPORT, VISA AND OTHER TRAVEL PERMIT
EU and Swiss citizens: The passenger must have a valid passport or identity card issued in an EU country or in Switzerland and which the state in question has approved as a travel document. A Finnish citizen can also present an ID card with photo, granted after 1.3.1999 (excluding a temporary ID card, an ID card issued to a minor without the consent of the parent/guardian and an ID card granted to a foreign citizen).
Citizens of other countries: The passenger must have a valid passport and other necessary travel documents. Children: Children must have their own passport or be entered in the passport of a parent accompanying them. Responsibility for inadequate travel documents: Passengers themselves are responsible for ascertaining what travel documents are required. If an authority refuses entry ashore or on board to a passenger on the ground of inadequate travel documents, the passenger is liable for any costs incurred by him (incl. the return journey) or by Finnlines.

12. TICKET
The ticket, which evidences the contract of carriage incorporating the standard conditions, is a personal document which is valid for carriage of only the persons and vehicles specified and for receipt of the services indicated on it. A passenger may not transfer the rights indicated on the ticket to another person. Anyone who has obtained a ticket on behalf of another person shall be considered to have been empowered to do so as well as to accept these standard conditions of carriage on behalf of the other person.
The loss of a ticket must be reported immediately to Finnlines. Finnlines is not liable to refund the price of a ticket that has been mislaid, destroyed or lost through crime.
The price of an unused ticket is refunded only in the event that the reserved place has been appropriately cancelled. A fee in accordance with the terms of cancellation is charged for this measure. Applications for refunds must be made within three months after the end of the voyage. They should be made in writing to the office that has sold the ticket. The invoice and reservation number shall replace the ticket.

13. CHECK-IN
The ticket or reservation number, in return for which the passenger is given a boarding card or cabin key, must be presented at the check-in. The check-in is closed one (1) hour before the announced departure time of the vessel apart from when the announced departure time of the vessel is in between 00.00 – 06.00 am, in which case the check-in is closed at 10.30 pm local time. Passengers must observe the check-in times to ensure that their embarkation and the loading of their vehicle on board the vessel can be arranged appropriately without causing unnecessary delay to the departure of the vessel. If passengers arrive at the check-in after it has closed, neither they nor their vehicles can be guaranteed a place on the ship.

14. GENERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS IN THE CHECK-IN AREA AT THE TERMINAL AND ONBOARD THE VESSEL RESTRICTIONS ON LUGGAGE ON THE VESSEL:
Passengers may not bring to the terminal or on board the vessel any luggage (including vehicle) or hand baggage that can cause a hazard or inconvenience for the terminal, the vessel, people, other luggage, hand baggage or cargo. Finnlines is entitled to carry ashore, render innocuous or destroy any such luggage and/or hand baggage at the passenger´s expense and without any liability on its own part.
SECURITY CHECK:
All passengers, vehicles, luggage and hand baggage going on board the vessel can be subjected to a security inspection in the departure area of the terminal or on board the vessel. A passenger who refuses to undergo a security inspection can be refused access to the vessel and the authorities will be notified of the matter.
DISEMBARKING FROM THE VESSEL BEFORE DEPARTURE:
A passenger who has boarded the vessel may not disembark from it before departure. If, nevertheless, the passenger does disembark, all luggage (including vehicle) and hand baggage must be removed from the vessel. A passenger who has disembarked from the vessel before its departure must compensate Finnlines for the costs resulting from disembarkation and the removal of the vehicle.
SAFETY ON BOARD:
After they have boarded the vessel, passengers must familiarise themselves with the safety instructions displayed in the cabins. Passengers are obliged to comply with the regulations in force on board the vessel and to follow the disciplinary instructions and safety rules issued by crew members. Passengers must always have their boarding card or cabin key with them while they are on the vessel.
REMOVAL OF A PASSENGER FROM A VESSEL:
Finnlines reserves the right to refuse to carry a passenger or to remove from the vessel a passenger who may pose a danger to the safety of other passengers, the crew or the vessel. A passenger who has been removed from the vessel is liable to compensate Finnlines for the cost of removing him or her and his or her vehicle.
SAFETY ON THE CAR DECK:
All goods in a vehicle must be well secured. It is forbidden to be on the car deck during the voyage. Smoking and naked flames are forbidden on the car deck. The valves of gas cylinders connected to camper vans/caravans must be kept closed throughout the time on board the vessel.

15. LIABILITY OF CARRIER
The liability of Finnlines; any amount to be compensated for the death of or personal injury to a passenger, loss of or damage to luggage and passenger´s deductible (sum to be deducted from loss or damage) is always limited in accordance with the provisions of the applicable law referred to in clause 19, or of the 1974 Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, as amended by protocol dated 29.3.1990 (“Athens Convention´). Finnlines is not liable for any damage or loss or for costs arising from delay which are caused before the beginning or after the termination of the carriage by sea of passengers and their luggage as defined in clause 2 above. Finnlines is not liable for the loss of or injury to live animals resulting from any special risks inherent in that kind of carriage. Notwithstanding anything contained in these standards conditions Finnlines' aggregate liability resulting from any distinct occasion is always globally limited in accordance with the provisions of limitation of liability on maritime claims under the Finnish Maritime Act or of international conventions as found applicable by the competent court referred to under clause 20 below.

16. LIABILITY OF FINNLINES´ EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTUAL PARTNERS:
If an action is brought directly against the owner of the vessel, charterer, manager, its master, crew or any other person in the employ of Finnlines, a Finnlines agent or independent contractor or against anyone having an interest in the vessel, such person shall be entitled to avail himself of defences and limits of liability which Finnlines is entitled to invoke under the contract of carriage and the relevant act specified in clause 19 below or the Athens Convention, as if they had been expressly made for his benefit. Finnlines enters into the contract of carriage not only on its own behalf, but also as an agent and trustee for such persons who shall to this extent be or be deemed to be parties to the contract of carriage. The indemnities payable by Finnlines and the other abovementioned persons may in no event, even in aggregate, exceed the maximum amounts specified in the contract of carriage nor in the law specified in clause 19 below nor in the Athens Convention where applicable.

17. RIGHT OF CANCELLATION OF A CONTRACT
The right of both the passenger and the carrier to cancel the contract of carriage are specified in the law applicable in accordance with clause 19.

18. PERFORMANCE OF TRANSPORTATION
The carrier is entitled to perform the transport by another vessel than the one announced or specified on the ticket.

19. APPLICABLE LAW
The contract of carriage is subject to Finnish law.
If the terms of these standard conditions are in conflict with the mandatory provisions of the Athens Convention or the mandatory provisions of national legislation that are applicable to any dispute concerning this contract of carriage, the mandatory provisions shall supersede the terms of standard conditions of this contract of carriage insofar as there is a conflict between these standard conditions and the provisions. Otherwise, the terms of these standard conditions of carriage shall apply.

20. JURISDICTION
Disputes arising under or in relation to the contract of carriage shall be determined at the option of the plaintiff by the competent court a) at the place of permanent residence or principal place of business of the defendant,
b) at the place of departure or the place of destination of the vessel according to the contract of carriage.
If the Athens Convention applies to the contract of carriage in accordance with clause 19 above, the dispute may, at the option of the plaintiff, be determined by the court specified in Article 17, 1 (c) and (b) of the said Convention.