INDanube

CESNI Meeting in Prague adopts variety of standards for the IWT sector

Published: November 25, 2018

Prague, 8 November 2018 – The European Committee for drawing up Standards in the field of Inland Navigation (CESNI) met in Prague on Thursday 8 November 2018 in grateful response to an invitation from the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic. The outcome of this Committee meeting was considerable: for the first time, 14 standards in the field of professional qualifications, or “Prague Standards” were adopted. The Committee also adopted the new European standard laying down technical requirements for inland navigation vessels – ES-TRIN 2019/1 – which replaces the 2017 edition. The Committee also set itself new ambitious targets by adopting its 2019-2021 work programme and setting up a new permanent working group in the information technologies field

10 Member States (AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, FR, LUX, NL, RO, SK) and one Observer State (UKR), as well as the European Commission, the River Commissions (Danube, Rhine, Sava) and r organisations approved by CESNI (EBU, ESO, ETF, EDINNA, IVR, GERC and CEMT) participated in the meeting of the Committee chaired by Ms Lucia Luijten.

The excellent supervision of the work by the Ministry, combined with meticulous preparation of the agenda, significantly contributed to the success of particularly productive meetings of the CESNI and its Working Group on Professional Qualifications (CESNI/QP), which met in session on 6-7 November. Mr Jindřich Kušnír, director of the rail and river transport department at the Ministry, warmly welcomed the CESNI members, before presenting the Czech Republic’s transport policy and its strong support of inland navigation.

Read more on outcomes here.

Adoption of ES-TRIN 2019/1 and of information documents on engines and traditional craft

The European Committee for drawing up Standards in the field of Inland Navigation (CESNI) adopted the 2019/1 edition of the European Standard laying down technical requirements for inland navigation vessels. This new edition of the Standard, replacing the 2017 edition, became necessary to introduce important amendments concerning, in particular, requirements related to:

  • Automated external defibrillators;
  • Fire-fighting installations – K2CO3;
  • Specific provisions for electrical propulsion systems (Chapter 11);
  • Transitional provisions on:
  • noise limits,
  • engines,
  • electrical equipment and installations
  • ship’s boats,
  • passenger vessel escape routes,
  • the propulsion systems of passenger vessels and
  • safety equipment aft of the aft-peak bulkhead;
  • Numerous editorial corrections in the various language versions.

ES-TRIN is not binding per se. The CCNR, the European Union and other international organisations or third countries can apply this Standard by referring to it in their respective legal frameworks.

The CCNR and EU intend to enact ES-TRIN 2019/1 in a coordinated way, with effect from 1 January 2020, by means of a reference in their respective legislative frameworks.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the European Association of Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers (EUROMOT), the Committee decided to publish a document on frequently asked questions (FAQ) which aims to help those involved in the sector to understand and implement the requirements as they apply to inland navigation vessel engines in the context of the new requirements stemming from Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 on Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM), and of the ES-TRIN.
Finally, the Committee decided to publish an information document on the procedures for implementing chapter 24 of the ES-TRIN on traditional craft.

Interesting links in English (Dutch, German and French versions available on the CESNI website):

Document prepared by the Austrian Ministry of Transport , Innovation and Technology on Impact of the NRMM Directive on the Inland Waterway Transport Auswirkungen der VERORDNUNG (EU) 2016/1628 (NRMM1 Verordnung) auf die Binnenschifffahrt (available nly in German)