Petar Margic Danube Commission, Budapest

1. Position of the Danube Commission regarding the Proposal on three types of boatmasters’ certificates Petar Margic Danube Commission, Budapest

2. Contents: • Benefits of the Proposal of the Danube Commission and International Sava River Basin Commission • Drawbacks of the Proposal of the Danube Commission and International Sava River Basin Commission • Conclusions SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

3. Benefits of the Proposal of the Danube Commission and International Sava River Basin Commission: • Increased safety in inland navigation • By introducing of additional Cclass the possibility of accidents is reduced • By increasing the age limit from 21 to 24 years of age the possibility of inexperienced captains navigating large formations and passenger ships on complex parts of waterways will be prevented. • Greater competence as well as respect for the position of ship’s captain without taking additional professional exams SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

4. Benefits of the Proposal of the Danube Commission and International Sava River Basin Commission: • Harmonization of the new EC Directive (revised Directive 96/50/EC) with the regulations of all river commissions and UNECE • Reciprocal recognition of all boatmasters’ certificates on European waterways • Efficient control and supervision of navigation safety SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

5. Accident MS Bavaria 52 and Cruiser Viktoria at 06:30 Lock of Gabcikovo Channel km 34 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 SC.3/WP.3 Geneva , June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

6. Accident MS Bavaria 52 and Cruiser Viktoria at 06:30 Lock of Gabcikovo Channel km 34 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

7. Accident MS Bavaria 52 and Cruiser Viktoria at 06:30 Lock of Gabcikovo Channel km 34 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

8. Accident MS Bavaria 52 and Cruiser Viktoria at 06:30 Lock of Gabcikovo Channel km 34 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

9. 2. Drawbacks of the Proposal of the Danube Commission and International Sava River Basin Commission: • Absence of “Accident Data Base” on the Danube river • Due to urgent actualization of the Directive 96/50/EC, there is not enough time for a detail analysis of the common position of the Danube Commission and Danube shipping companies regarding the introduction of additional Cclass • Different positions of the CCNR, DC and SC regarding the need for introducing of additional Cclass SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

10. 3. Conclusions • The initiative for modifying of the DC “Recommendations on boatmasters’ certificates” has been taken with the aim of increasing the safety of navigation on the Danube • Technical experts from 10 DC member states ( 5 EU + 5 non EU) have, based on their long-time experience in the field of navigation on the Danube as well as on their three-year work on modifying of the DC “Recommendations for boatmasters’ certificates“, reached a conclusion on the necessity of introducing of C class. • Next steps: • Convergence of positions of CCNR, DC and SC regarding boatmasters’ certificates. • Need to modify the Directive 96/50/EC SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates

11. Thank you for your attention! Petar Margic Counselor for Nautical Issues petar.margic@danubecom-intern.org SC.3/WP.3 Geneva, June 14, 2011 Special consultation meeting on boatmasters’ certificates