The Department of Inland Waterway Navigation (Direction de la navigation fluviale) of the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works (Ministère de la Mobilité et des Travaux publics) issues the following certificates for inland waterway vessels:

• gauging certificate;
• European Union certificate;
• certificate of approval for the transport of dangerous goods on inland waterway vessels, issued by the department for the transport of dangerous goods (cellule 'Transport de marchandises dangereuses').

Who is concerned

The owner of a vessel registered in Luxembourg – or for which registration in Luxembourg is pending – must apply for a gauging certificate.

The owners of passenger vessels, floating equipment and vessels operating on European waterways must apply for a European Union certificate.

The owner of a vessel used to transport dangerous goods must apply for a certificate of approval.

Prerequisites

Gauging certificate

The gauging certificate must be obtained before the vessel is registered.

European Union certificate

The European Union certificate is compulsory for passenger vessels, floating equipment and all vessels operating on European inland waterways if:

• the length of the hull is 20m or more; or
  
• the length x width x draught is equal to 100m³ or more.

Costs

The European Union certificate and the certificate of approval both cost EUR 100 each.

How to proceed

Filing an application

Gauging certificate

All inland waterway vessels must be gauged before being registered. Gauging operations are carried out by accredited classification firms and experts.

To have the gauging certificate approved, the owner of the vessel must:

• submit a vessel operation form; and
• prove that the vessel is operated substantially in Luxembourg.

They can send their application for a gauging certificate on plain paper to the Directorate of Inland Waterway Navigation or by email to: adn@tr.etat.lu.

European Union certificate

Applications, accompanied by supporting documents, must be filed with the Directorate of Inland Waterway Navigation using a form. An inspection committee is convened and returns an opinion.

A provisional European Union certificate may be applied for pending the issue of a definitive European Union certificate.

Certificate of approval

All vessels used to transport dangerous goods must have a certificate of approval. This certificate proves that the vessel has been inspected, and that its design and equipment are fully compliant with requirements.

Applications must be submitted to the department for the transport of dangerous goods (cellule 'Transport de marchandises dangereuses'). If a certificate of approval has not yet been obtained for the vessel, or if it expired more than 12 months previously, an initial inspection will be required.

A temporary certificate of approval can be requested, pending the issuance of a definitive certificate.

Supporting documents

To have the gauging certificate approved, the owner of the vessel must submit:

• the gauging certificate;
• a copy of the certificate of operation (compulsory if the vessel has no home port);
• a document establishing the location of the vessel's home port (compulsory if there is no certificate of operation).

Applications for European Union certificates must be accompanied by:

• a copy of the inspection/European Union certificate (compulsory if to be amended);
• a copy of the gauging certificate;
• a copy of the construction/sales agreement or invoice or cadastral extract (new constructions);
• a certificate of conformity issued by a recognised classification firm. The European Union certificate will then be issued, without the need for an additional inspection, on the recommendation of the inspection committee;
• proof of loss, theft or destruction (compulsory if applying for a duplicate);
• proof of payment of the classification firm's fees.

The application for approval must be accompanied by the following:

• a copy of the inspection/European Union certificate (compulsory in case of amendment);
• a certificate of conformity issued by a recognised classification firm (DNV Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register or Bureau Veritas);
• proof of payment of the classification firm's fees;
• proof of loss, theft or destruction (compulsory if applying for a duplicate).

Validity period and renewal

The gauging certificate is valid for 15 years at the most (10 years for vessels used to transport dangerous goods), but may be extended under the same conditions as when it was initially issued.

The European Union certificate is valid for 10 year at the most (5 years for passenger vessels and vessels used to transport dangerous goods). The certificate must be renewed before the expiry date. The certificate is renewed by the Minister on the basis of a certificate attesting to full compliance with European regulations, issued by a classification firm recognised in Europe, after an inspection.

The certificate of approval must be renewed no later than every 5 years, unless extended for 1 year. The certificate is renewed by the Minister on the basis of a certificate attesting to full compliance with European regulations, issued by a classification firm recognised in Europe, after a periodic inspection.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact