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Recognition and harmonisation
Community law concerning inland waterway boatmasters' certificates has evolved in two stages: the principle of mutual recognition of national certificates by Member States was introduced in 1991 and in 1996 the conditions for obtaining national certificates were harmonised on the introduction of a Community model certificate.
STAGE ONE: Mutual recognition of national boatmasters' certificates
AIM
To introduce the mutual recognition of national inland waterway boatmasters' certificates into the Member States in order effectively to remove the barriers that are likely to restrict the free provision of transport services within the Community.
COMMUNITY INSTRUMENT
Council Directive 91/672/EEC of 16 December 1991 on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway.(OJ No L 373, 31.12.1991, p. 29)
PRINCIPLE
Classification of national boatmasters certificates into two groups:
group A: boatmasters certificates valid for all Community waterways and for seaways
group B: boatmasters certificates valid for the Community's other waterways, apart from the Rhine, the Lek and the Waal
Specific system applying to the Rhine: the Rhine boatmasters' licence [http://www.ccr-zkr.org] , issued in accordance with the revised Mannheim Convention, is valid for all Member-State waterways and is mandatory for boatmasters using the Rhine, the Lek and the Waal.
Member States mutually recognise the national boatmasterscertificates covered by the above-mentioned groups A and B for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway.
NB : Member States have the option of requiring additional knowledge for the operation of vessels carrying dangerous cargoes as well as additional knowledge of the local situation..
STAGE TWO :Harmonisation of the conditions for obtaining national inland waterway boatmasters' certificate
AIM
To harmonise the conditions under which national inland waterway boatmasters' certificates are obtained for operations between the Member States in order to combat distortions of competition among carriers and to enhance inland waterway safety. To introduce a model Community boatmasters' certificate.
COMMUNITY INSTRUMENT
Council Directive 96/50/EC of 23 July 1996 on the harmonisation of the conditions for obtaining national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway in the Community (OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 31).
PRINCIPLE
The directive introduces a model community boatmasters' certificate for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway. That new model will be issued by the Member States.
The certificate will take account of the specific aspects of inland waterways, namely the distinction between boatmasters' certificates that are valid for all Community waterways apart from those on which the regulation on the issue of Rhine boatmasters' licences (group A) applies and boatmasters' certificates that are valid for all Community waterways apart from seaways and apart from the waterways on which the regulation on the issue of Rhine-boatmasters' licences applies (group B).
The group A or B certificate issued in accordance with this directive is valid for all group A and B Community waterways.
The Rhine-boatmasters'licence [http://www.ccr-zkr.org], issued in accordance with the revised Mannheim Convention is valid for all of the Community's waterways.
The conditions for obtaining a certificate:
A minimum age of 21, but the Member States may issue a boatmasters' certificate from the age of 18 years onwards.
Proof of physical or mental fitness by means of a medical examination.
Proof of professional experience: four years' minimum as a member of the bridge crew on board an inland waterway vessel (certain reductions are possible).
Passing an examination to test professional knowledge (such as a knowledge of navigation, vessel manoeuvring and operation, vessel machinery, loading, etc.) Special conditions apply to the carriage of passengers and the operation of radar equipped vessels.
These provisions apply to all masters of inland waterway vessels (self-propelled barge, tug, pusher craft, towed barge, pushed or side-by-side convoy, intended to carry goods or passengers.
They do not apply to goods-vessel masters where their vessel is less than 20 m long or to passenger vessels carrying less than 12 passengers.
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