Carrier of goods by waterway
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The activity of a carrier of goods by waterway is defined as the transport of goods, by inland waterway vessel, for the account of others.
A business permit is required to work as a carrier of goods by waterway.
Who is concerned
You need a business permit to transport goods by inland waterway vessel for the account of others if you are a:
- natural person;
- commercial company;
- member of a group or cooperative of operators (even in the absence of a legal personality) whose purpose is to obtain business from shipping agents for distribution among your members.
The business permit is not required for:
- the operation of ferries;
- the transport of goods by waterway using vessels with a deadweight capacity at maximum draft not exceeding 200 tonnes.
Prerequisites
Compliance with the conditions for access to the profession is verified at the time the application for a business permit is submitted.
- Sole proprietorship
- Company
Natural persons who wish to carry out the activity in their own name, in the context of a sole proprietorship, must meet the legal conditions of professional integrity.
Companies carrying out the activity must appoint at least one natural person, the business manager, who must:
- meet the legal requirements in terms professional integrity;
- effectively manage the day-to-day business on a permanent basis;
- have a genuine link with the company (be the owner or authorised representative registered in the Trade and Companies Register); and
- have paid all social security contributions and taxes, either in their own name or through the company they manage or have managed.
Ministerial approval
The business permit is issued upon approval from the Minister responsible for inland waterway transport.
Business permit
The business permit is issued to the company (either to the manager operating in their own name, or to the company they run) if the manager meets the legal conditions of professional integrity.
The information page 'Application for, or modification of, a business permit' contains all the information relating to this procedure.
Place of business
The company or sole proprietorship must have a fixed place of business in Luxembourg.
Necessary qualifications
To pursue the occupation of carrier of goods by inland waterways and in your capacity as the business manager, you must satisfy the required conditions of professional qualification.
You can provide proof of your qualification in several manners:
- a certificate confirming successful completion of an examination issued by a Member State of the European Union (Luxembourg does not organise such examinations, but recognises those of other Member States);
- a certificate proving that you have successfully taken part in a course in accordance with Council Directive 87/540/EEC of 9 November 1987 on access to the occupation of carrier of goods by waterway (the trainer/examiner must certify that you have acquired the knowledge required);
- by a declaration of honour, or under oath before a notary, that you have at least 3 years' professional experience as a manager who has exercised considerable influence on the day-to-day management of a waterway transport undertaking.
How to proceed
Good to know
Some training institutes offer courses/exams that meet the professional qualification requirements in French, German or Dutch (see 'Additional information' under 'Related procedures and links').
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Ministry of the Economy General Directorate for SME, Craft and Retail (Department for Authorisations of Establishment)
- Address:
-
Luxembourg
PO box 535 / L-2937 Luxembourg
- Phone:
-
(+352) 247 74 700
Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 16.30 (except on public holidays)
- Email address:
- info.pme@eco.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://meco.gouvernement.lu/en.html
-
Ministry of Mobility and Public Works Inland Navigation and Logistics
- Address:
-
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2938 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 84 400
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Accès à la profession de transporteur de marchandises par voie navigable
sur le portail Infrastructures Wallonie
-
Antwerp Inland Navigation School
on the website of University of Antwerp
-
Merkblatt Binnenschiffsgüterverkehr/Prüfungsanmeldung
auf der Website der Niederrheinische IHK
- Quinwalo (Qualification Inland Waterway Logistics)
Legal references
-
Directive 87/540/CEE du Conseil du 9 novembre 1987
relative à l'accès à la profession de transporteur de marchandises par voie navigable dans le domaine des transports nationaux et visant à la reconnaissance mutuelle des diplômes, certificats et autres titres concernant cette profession
-
Loi du 21 avril 1993
concernant l'accès à la profession de transporteur de marchandises par voie navigable dans le domaine des transports nationaux et internationaux
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