For a transitional period pending adoption of the new Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel (RPN), the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) invites its Member States not to sanction crew members on inland waterway vessels on the Rhine who present certificates of qualification, service record books or logbooks issued in accordance with Directive (EU) 2017/2397.

Conversely, the CCNR also invites its Member States to take measures to ensure that during document checks, including beyond the Rhine, crew members may continue to present certificates of qualification, service record books and logbooks, issued in accordance with the RPN still currently in force, unmolested.

This is because some European Union (EU) Member States have issued new Union certificates of qualification since the transposition period for Directive (EU) 2017/2397 on the recognition of professional qualifications in inland navigation ended on 17 January 2022. At the same time, the new Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel, which introduce requirements for certificates of qualification, service record books and logbooks that are consistent with the requirements of the directive, have not yet been adopted by the CCNR. A coordination process concerning the adoption of the RPN is currently underway between the European Union and the CCNR.

This is because some European Union (EU) Member States have issued new Union certificates of qualification since the transposition period for Directive (EU) 2017/2397 on the recognition of professional qualifications in inland navigation ended on 17 January 2022. At the same time, the new Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel, which introduce requirements for certificates of qualification, service record books and logbooks that are consistent with the requirements of the directive, have not yet been adopted by the CCNR. A coordination process concerning the adoption of the RPN is currently underway between the European Union and the CCNR.

The unanimous resolution on these special measures is available in three languages on the CCNR’s  website.