On 9-10 September 2019, the temporary working groups CESNI/QP/QM (quality management) and CESNI/QP/Crew (crew-related requirements) met in Basel in Switzerland to continue their work within the framework of the missions entrusted to them by the Committee (see CESNI’s press release).

At the invitation of the Swiss delegation, 20 experts boarded the tug/push vessel WILD MAA at the port of Birsfelden, where the Rhine unites two Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhin (CCNR) Member States, Germany and Switzerland. The experts passed the lock of Birsfelden, which is situated on the Swiss part of the river. The vessel then sailed downstream through the Basel area until it reached the Mittlere Rheinbrücke, where the international Rhine begins. The experts were able to obtain a deep insight into the difficulties on this specific stretch, where local knowledge and absolute competence of the boatmaster are required.

Hans-Peter Hadorn, CCNR commissioner and director of the Port of Switzerland, greeted all participants and stressed the full commitment of Switzerland to further regulatory harmonisation in the field of professional qualifications in inland navigation. He welcomed the new legal framework that would enter into force in 2022 on the Rhine and in the European Union (EU), and was convinced that the EU and CCNR Member States could manage the common regulations together.

The experts spent two days working in Basel on quality management and in particular on harmonised examination procedures. They also expanded the discussion to include the elaboration of new crewing requirements, starting with an analysis of the social partners’ TASCS project (Towards A Sustainable Crewing System).

The working groups kindly thanked the Port of Switzerland for their very fine welcome.