Not every inland shipping company employs a manager with the required certificate of professional competence. Read what the obligation entails and how to demonstrate it.

During recent inspections by the authorities on board inland vessels, it emerged that inland shipping companies do not always have at least one manager holding the required certificate "Certificate of professional competence for inland shipping operators". This obligation is described in European legislation, is incorporated into the Dutch Inland Shipping Act (Binnenvaartwet) and is further clarified in the Inland Shipping Regulation (Binnenvaartregeling).

Article 6 Inland Shipping Act, paragraph 1:

A company, or the person operating a company, is prohibited from transporting goods on a commercial basis, other than goods intended for or originating from its own company, unless a person is associated with that company to whom a certificate of professional competence has been issued for the commercial transport of goods and who genuinely and continuously manages the transport activity of the company.

Article 2.1 Inland Shipping Regulation:

Article 6, first paragraph, of the Act does not apply to:

a. transport with inland vessels whose loading capacity does not exceed 200 metric tonnes;
b. transport of:

1. passengers' luggage on inland vessels used for the commercial transport of persons;
2. goods forming part of the equipment or fittings of the inland vessel with which they are transported; or
3. goods belonging to the carrier, provided that the total weight of those goods does not exceed 25,000 kg and the goods are intended for the carrier's own use.

Inland shipping companies that do not fall under the exemptions listed must employ a manager who holds the certificate of professional competence.

Demonstrating professional competence

Professional competence can be demonstrated by means of one of the following certificates or diplomas:

• Professional diploma for inland shipping operators (CBR)
• Diploma with the qualification Master MBO Rhine and inland navigation
• Diploma Master/Manager inland navigation Level 3 or 4
• Vocational training programmes with codes 10650, 93110 or 96540 from the STC or Nova-college
• Permit for the commercial transport of goods issued by the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate
• Document issued by the minister on the basis of experience in other EEA states

Persons who were already working as inland shipping operators before 1993, but who do not hold a document as described above, can apply for a historical certificate of professional competence from the KIWA register. Various supporting documents must be submitted for this, as indicated on their website.

Website KIWA-register

Examination and training requirements

To obtain the certificate of professional competence as an inland shipping operator, 3 examinations must be taken at the CBR:

• Navigation (BVN)
• Maintenance, health and safety (BVGVM)
• National and international transport market (BVINV)

A minimum age of 16 applies in order to take part in the examinations.

Before taking the examination National and international transport market, it must be demonstrated that one holds one of the following diplomas or certificates:

• Diploma General Entrepreneurial Skills (AOV)
• The entrepreneur's diploma
• Partial certificates "Financing", "Organisation" and "Administration" of the entrepreneur's examination
• A certificate of exemption for the aforementioned training programmes issued by STEVES (Foundation for the Supervision of Transport and Shipping Examinations)

For the examinations Navigation (BVN) and Maintenance, health and safety (BVGVM), exemption is possible for holders of the Boatmaster qualification certificate or a Large Sailing Licence A/B.

More information wesite CBR

The course for General Entrepreneurial Skills and National and international transport market is offered by, among others, the Nova-college and the STC.

Links:

Website Nova-college

Website STC

Summary

Inland shipping companies are required to employ a manager who holds the certificate of professional competence for inland shipping operators. Where this certificate has not been obtained earlier, for example as part of master training, and cannot be demonstrated through historical experience from before 1993 at KIWA, a training programme with the associated CBR examinations must be completed successfully. If an inspection reveals that no one within the company holds the required certificate, this constitutes an offence under the Inland Shipping Act (Binnenvaartwet). This act is enforced primarily through administrative law. Where a transport manager is absent, the ILT first issues a warning with a three-month period for remedy. If the shortcoming is not remedied within that period, a penalty report follows. In the event of repetition, the supervisory authority may impose an order subject to a penalty (last onder dwangsom).

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