Entry into force of the Regulation (EC) No 392/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the Liability of Carriers of Passengers by Sea in the Event of Accidents (the "PLR")(No.2) 7 December 2012 No.12-021 We refer Members to circular  No.12-013  of September 24 on the PLR, that will apply in all European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States 1 from 31 December 2012. The Regulation essentially gives effect to the key provisions of the Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974 as amended by the 2002 Protocol (the "Convention"), together with the 2006 IMO Reservation and Guidelines for Implementation of the Convention covering war risks (the "Guidelines"). As Members have previously been informed, a significant feature of the PLR is that it also extends the provisions of the Convention to certain categories of passenger ships engaged in domestic sea going voyages 2 , unless the Member State or EEA State takes steps to defer application of the Regulation to such voyages. As of 29 November 2012, nine States have now ratified or acceded to the Convention, which will enter into force twelve months after the tenth State has ratified/acceded. The Convention will therefore enter into force  after  the Regulation takes effect. It remains possible that the Convention will enter into force in the 2013/14 policy year and, when it does so, there will be two distinct and separate regimes (the PLR and Athens Convention) in force and applicable. An update to Members will be issued closer to the time of entry into force of the Convention. Insurance & Certification requirements Circular  No.12-013  outlined the insurance and certification requirements stemming from the Regulation; the ships covered by the Regulation and the need for ships falling within the scope of the Regulation to maintain insurance which meets the requirements of the PLR and to obtain a