Registration and technical certificates for inland waterway navigation
Last update
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.
Pleasure boats that are shorter than 15 metres do not need to be gauged.
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.
Where passenger vessels are concerned, a valid European Union certificate or Rhine vessel inspection certificate can replace the gauging certificate.
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.
Gauging certificates issued abroad must be submitted to the Department of Inland Waterway Navigation for approval.
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.
Rhine vessel certificates are automatically recognised as European Union certificates for the operation of vessels on the Moselle.
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.
In the case of tankers, the certificate must be accompanied by a list of the dangerous goods that the tanker is authorised to transport, issued by an accredited classification firm.
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.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Department of Navigation
-
Department of Navigation
- Address:
- 36, Rue de Machtum L-6753 Grevenmacher Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 75 00 48-0
- Fax:
- (+352) 75 88 22
- Email address:
- service.navigation@sn.etat.lu
- Website:
- http://www.service-navigation.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Publications
Pdf • 12,57 Mo
Legal references
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Directive 2006/87/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 12 décembre 2006
établissant les prescriptions techniques des bateaux de la navigation intérieure
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Loi du 26 novembre 1981
portant approbation de la Convention relative au jaugeage des bateaux de navigation intérieure, faite à Genève, le 15 février 1966
-
Arrêté grand-ducal du 1er avril 2017
portant modification du règlement annexé à l'Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par voies de navigation intérieures
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Arrêté grand-ducal du 7 mars 2019
portant publication de l'Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par voies de navigation intérieures (ADN), fait à Genève, le 26 mai 2000, y compris le Règlement annexé, en vigueur le 1er janvier 2019
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