Without prejudice to Article 40, Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive, at the latest by 7 October 2018 and which shall apply from this date. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt such measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the measures of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Any Member State which, as a result of derogations authorised in accordance with Article 24(1) and (2), has no craft subject to this Directive operating on its waterways shall not be required to transpose Chapter 2, Article 18(3) and Articles 20 and 21.