The Member States of the European Committee for drawing up Standards in the field of Inland Navigation (CESNI) have adopted the new editions of the ES-TRIN, the European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels, and the ES-RIS, the European Standard for River Information Services. They have also approved new guidelines relating to the competencies required for the safe operation of craft that use gaseous hydrogen as fuel. These decisions were made at the CESNI meeting on 15 October 2026 in Strasbourg (France), which was chaired by Mr Florian Röthlingshöfer of the Swiss delegation. The standards, their explanatory notices and the guidelines will be published on the CESNI website by the end of November, one month after their adoption. 

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Adoption of the ES-TRIN 2027/1, the standard relating to the technical requirements for vessels…

The CESNI adopted the new edition of the European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels, the ES-TRIN 2027/1.

This new edition of the standard, which is intended to supersede the 2025/1 edition, introduces important amendments concerning:

• Low flashpoint fuels, in particular storage and use of gaseous hydrogen,
• Track guidance assistants for inland navigation (TGAIN), awareness monitoring systems and the reorganisation of provisions for navigation and information equipment (Annex 5),
• Electronic equipment, systems and networks,
• Electric propulsion systems,
• Jacketed piping systems in engines,
• Fire extinguishers with foam agents,
• Updating of references to the ES-RIS 2027/1 and to international standards.

In addition, the ES-TRIN 2027/1 considerably simplifies the transitional provisions by combining five tables into one, without modifying the applicable obligations or deadlines. These transitional provisions are intended to support the gradual adaptation of the fleet to the new requirements. To facilitate its implementation, the CESNI has developed a public monitoring tool. This tool is useful not only to Inspection Bodies but also to other stakeholders in the sector, such as shipyards, vessel owners and engineering offices. It is available at the following address: https://listes.cesni.eu/8088-en.html

The ES-TRIN 2027/1 is due to enter into force on 1 January 2028, in the legal frameworks of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) and the EU (European Union).

… and adoption of the ES-RIS 2027/1, in the field of information technologies

At this meeting, the CESNI also adopted the new edition of the European Standard for River Information Services, the ES-RIS 2027/1.

This new edition of the ES-RIS includes updates intended to keep pace with the development of digital tools for inland navigation. In particular, it prepares Inland ECDIS; this system combines on a single screen the Inland Electronic Navigational Chart, the vessel’s position and, in navigation mode, the radar image, incorporating new information to assist the boatmaster during navigation. This additional information is sourced from the track guidance assistant for inland navigation (TGAIN) and collision risk detection equipment. Test procedures have also been made more robust, ensuring that navigation information is presented more consistently and that new features function as intended.

In addition, this edition modernises the exchange of data between vessels and the authorities by introducing more up-to-date and structured electronic message formats. Notices to Skippers have been improved to better describe the zones affected by events or restrictions. Finally, the text has been enhanced with the addition of Ukrainian translations for the codes used in Notices to Skippers.

The ES-RIS 2027/1 is due to enter into force on 1 January 2028, in the legal frameworks of the CCNR and the EU for countries that have transposed the RIS Directive into national legislation.

Continuation of work in the field of professional qualifications

The CESNI also approved new guidelines defining the competencies required for the safe operation of craft that use gaseous hydrogen as fuel. These guidelines are intended for vessel owners, manufacturers and insurers as well as for training institutions, and they cover a wide range of technical solutions. They keep pace with the rapid evolution of hydrogen-related technologies.

Participants at the meeting

The Committee meeting was attended by representatives of:

• 10 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland
• The European Commission and the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine
•  3 approved organisations: EBU, EBA, GERC
• 1 Observer State: Ukraine

Next meetings
The next meetings of the Committee will be held on 22 April and 14 October 2027.