Technical and operational minimum requirements of European Inland Waterways of importance for International Combined Transport

a) Technical characteristics of C-E waterways

The main technical characteristics of C-E waterways shall generally be in conformity with the classification of European inland waterways set out in Table 1.

For the evaluation of different C-E waterways, the characteristics of classes Vb-VII are to be used, taking account of the following principles:

(i) The class of a waterway shall be determined by the horizontal dimensions of motor vessels, barges and pushed convoys, and primarily by the main standardized dimension, namely their beam or width;

(ii) The values for Class Vb in Table 1 are to be regarded as important minimum objectives to be reached within the framework of relevant infrastructure development programmes. For new inland waterways to be utilized for combined transport a minimum draught of 280 cm should be ensured;

(iii) The following minimum requirements are considered necessary in order to make a waterway suitable for container transport:

inland navigation vessels with a width of 11.4 m and a length of approximately 110 m must be able to operate with three or more layers of containers; otherwise a permissible length of pushed convoys of 185 m should be ensured, in which case they could operate with two layers of containers;

(iv) When modernizing existing waterways and/or building new ones, vessels and convoys of greater dimensions should always be taken into account;

(v) In order to ensure more efficient container transport, the highest possible bridge clearance value should be ensured in accordance with footnote 4 of Table 1

1) If, however, the proportion of empty containers exceeds 50%, observance of a value for the minimum height under bridges which is higher than that indicated in footnote to Table 1 should be considered.

;

(vi) On waterways with fluctuating water levels, the value of the recommended draught should correspond to the draught reached or exceeded for 240 days on average per year (or for 60% of the navigation period). The value of the recommended height under bridges (5.25, 7.00 or 9.10 m) should be ensured over the highest navigation level, where possible and economically reasonable;

(vii) A uniform class, draught and height under bridges should be ensured either for the whole waterway or at least for substantial sections thereof;

(viii) Where possible, the parameters of adjacent inland waterways should be the same or similar;

(ix) The highest draught (4.50 m) and minimum bridge clearance (9.10 m) values should be ensured on all parts of the network that are directly connected with coastal routes;

(x) A minimum bridge clearance of 7.00 m should be ensured on waterways that connect important sea ports with the hinterland and are suitable for efficient container and river-sea traffic;

(xi) Coastal routes listed in Annex I above are intended to ensure the integrity of the C-E waterways' network throughout Europe and are meant to be used, within the meaning of this Protocol, by river-sea vessels whose dimensions should, where possible and economically viable, meet the requirements for selfpropelled units suitable for navigating on inland waterways of classes Vb and above.

Footnotes to Table 1

1 The first figure takes into account the existing situations, whereas the second one represents both future developments and, in some cases, existing situations.

2 Allows for a safety clearance of about 0.30 m between the uppermost point of the vessel's structure or its load and a bridge.

3 Allows for expected future developments in ro-ro, container and river-sea navigation.

4 Checked for container transport: 5.25 m for vessels transporting 2 layers of containers; 7.00 m for vessels transporting 3 layers of containers: 9.10 m for vessels transporting 4 layers of containers. 50% of the containers may be empty or ballast should be used.

5 The draught value for a particular inland waterway to be determined according to the local conditions.

6 Convoys consisting of a larger number of barges can also be used on some sections of waterways of class VII. In this case, the horizontal dimensions may exceed the values shown in the table.

b) Operational minimum requirements for C-E waterways

C-E waterways should meet the following essential operational criteria in order to be able to ensure reliable international traffic:

(i) Through traffic should be ensured throughout the navigation period, with the exception of the breaks mentioned below;

(ii) The navigation period may be shorter than 365 days only in regions with severe climatic conditions, where the maintaining of channels free of ice in the winter season is not possible and a winter break is therefore necessary. In these cases, dates should be fixed for the opening and closure of navigation. The duration of breaks in the navigation period caused by natural phenomena such as ice, floods, etc. should be kept to a minimum by appropriate technical and organizational measures;

(iii) The duration of breaks in the navigation period for regular maintenance of locks and other hydraulic works should be kept to a minimum. Users of a waterway where maintenance work is planned should be kept informed of the dates and duration of the envisaged break in navigation. In cases of unforeseen failure of locks or other hydraulic facilities, or other force majeure, the duration of breaks should be kept as limited as possible using all appropriate measures to remedy the situation;

(iv) No breaks shall be admissible during low water periods. A reasonable limitation of admissible draught may nevertheless be allowed on waterways with fluctuating water levels. However, a minimum draught of 1.20 m should be ensured at all times, with the recommended or characteristic draught being ensured or exceeded for 240 days per year. In regions referred to in subparagraph (ii) above, the minimum draught of 1.20 m should be ensured for 60% of the navigation period on average;

(v) Operating hours of locks, movable bridges and other infrastructure works shall be such that round-the-clock (24-hour) navigation can be ensured on working days, if economically feasible. In specific cases, exceptions may be allowed due to organizational and/or technical reasons. Reasonable hours of navigation should also be ensured during holidays and at weekends.

c) Technical and operational minimum requirements for terminals in ports

The network of C-E waterways shall be complemented by a system of terminals in inland waterway ports. Each terminal shall meet the following technical and operational minimum requirements:

(i) It should be situated on a C-E waterway;

(ii) It should be capable of accommodating vessels or pushed convoys used on the relevant C-E waterway in conformity with its class;

(iii) It should be connected with main roads and railway lines (preferably belonging to the network of international roads and railway lines established by the European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR), the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC) and the European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC));

(iv) Its aggregate cargo handling capacity should be in the order of 30,000 to 40,000 TEUs a year;

(v) It should offer suitable conditions for the development of a port industrial zone;

(vi) All the facilities necessary for usual operations in international traffic should be available;

(vii) With a view to ensuring the protection of the environment, reception facilities for the disposal of waste generated on board ships should be available in ports of international importance;