Requirements for operators, boatmasters and crews in inland navigation

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Qualifications of inland navigation operators

Every vessel in commercial navigation operating in the inland waters of European Union (EU) Member States and Switzerland must have a Rijnvaartverklaring (Certificate of Belonging to the Navigation of the Rhine, in Dutch). This document specifies the operator and owner or other owners of the vessel, allowing regulators to know whom to contact for enforcement. The owner/operator submits the application form (in Dutch) to Kiwa, an organisation that issues licences in the transportation sector on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands.

For commercial freight transport on inland waters, at least one management-level employee within the company must have a bewijs van vakbekwaamheid (Certificate of Competence). This is not required for other forms of inland navigation. You can apply for a Certificate of Competence on the Kiwa website.

Expertise of boatmasters

Professional boatmasters (barge captains) may only operate with a valid vaarbewijs (Boating Licence). The Binnenvaartbesluit (Inland Navigation Decree, in Dutch) specifies which navigation certificates are required for which waters and vessels. Certain boating licences issued outside of the Netherlands are also valid in the Netherlands. These are specified in the Inland Navigation Decree, annex 7.1 (in Dutch).

If you have a Large Vessel Licence or Rhine Certificate, you must exchange it before 17 January 2032. 

The Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR (central office for driving licences in The Netherlands) no longer issues Large Vessel Licences and Rhine Certificates. These have been replaced by the Europese kwalificatiecertificaat schipper (Union Certificate of Qualification as a Boatmaster). You can apply for the Union Certificate of Qualification as a Boatmaster (in Dutch) at the CBR. The qualification requirements are outlined in the European standard ES-QIN. You can read more about European professional qualifications in inland navigation on the CESNI website.

• The competency requirements for the Rhine, Waal and Lek are detailed in the Reglement scheepvaartpersoneel op de Rijn, RSP (Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel, RPN, in Dutch). 
• The competency requirements for other inland waters are specified in the Binnenvaartregeling (Inland Navigation Regulations, in Dutch).

Composition of a minimum crew

The type of vessel, its length, the mode of operation (in Dutch) and other factors determine how many crew members must be on board and which qualifications they must have.

• The minimum crew requirements for the Rhine, Waal and Lek are stated in the Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel, RPN. 
• The minimum requirements for other inland waters are included in the Inland Navigation Regulations. 
• The minimum requirements for sea-going vessels operating on inland waters are detailed in the Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel, RPN. 

The Inland Navigation Regulations include exemptions for different types of vessels (in Dutch), such as motor vessels up to 55 metres and sailing passenger vessels. These exemptions also apply within the Netherlands on the Rhine, Waal and Lek. For some of these exemptions, a tachograph is mandatory.

Working and resting hours for boatmasters and crew

There are rules for working and resting hours in inland navigation (in Dutch) that apply to inland navigation vessels registered in the Netherlands. A tachograph may allow for deviations from these rules under certain conditions.

Sailing logbook

Every inland vessel operating commercially on inland waters must maintain a vaartijdenboek (sailing logbook). The boatmaster is responsible for this. Towing and pushing boats that remain in port are not required to have a sailing logbook.

The standard sailing logbook format allows the ILT to verify compliance with regulations. It includes, for example:

• The mode of operation of the vessel (in Dutch).
• The crew members, including the boatmaster, on board.
• The journey undertaken by the vessel and crew, including the boatmaster.
• The resting times of the crew, including the boatmaster.

The owner/operator can request a sailing logbook from the Stichting Afvalstoffen & Vaardocumenten Binnenvaart, SAB (Inland Shipping Waste Foundation). Instructions for use are included in the sailing logbook itself, in Dutch.

You can view some examples of a completed logbook here.

Service booklet

Each crew member must have a personal dienstboekje (service booklet). There is a separate service booklet for the boatmaster. More information about service booklets can be found at the SAB, where you can also apply for them.

Medical examination for boatmasters and crew

If you are applying for or renewing a Europees kwalificatiecertificaat (Union Certificate of Qualification as a Boatmaster) or service booklet for inland navigation, you will need a medische keuring binnenvaart (seafarer medical examination for inland navigation).

Further requirements for crews in inland navigation

Read which other documents you must have on board:

• In Chapter 1, Article 1.10 of the Binnenvaartpolitiereglement (Inland Waterways Police Regulations, in Dutch).
• On the certified waters in Chapter 1, Article 1.10 of the Rijnvaartpolitiereglement (Rhine Navigation Police Regulations).