At its plenary session in June 2015, the CCNR adopted a resolution creating a European Committee for drawing up standards in the field of inland navigation (“CESNI”). The setting up of this new working body is an expression of the Central Commission’s and European Union’s common desire to reinforce governance at the European level, in particular as regards the regulation of inland navigation.

At its meeting on 26 November 2015, in The Hague, CESNI set up the working group on technical requirements for inland navigation vessels (CESNI/PT), as well as the working group on professional qualifications (CESNI/QP), which are responsible for preparing the standards and decisions submitted to CESNI. Furthermore, CESNI adopted a first edition 2015/1 of the European standard laying down technical requirements for inland navigation vessels (ES-TRIN) This standard establishes the uniform technical requirements for ensuring the safety of inland navigation vessels. Available in 4 languages (German, English, French, Dutch), it adopts in a standardised way the requirements contained in directive 2006/87/EC and in the Rhine Vessel Inspection Regulations. It contains provisions on inland navigation vessel construction, arrangement and equipment, special provisions for certain categories of vessel such as passenger vessels, pushed convoys and container vessels, as well as instructions on how to apply the technical standard. ES-TRIN also incorporates the new requirements governing the use of liquefied natural gas as a fuel (LNG).

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