The European Committee for drawing up Standards in the field of Inland Navigation (CESNI) met on 16 April 2026 in Strasbourg (France). The meeting was chaired by Mr Florian Röthlingshöfer, representing Switzerland. The key items on the agenda included work related to the ES-TRIN 2027/1, the creation of a new temporary working group CESNI/PT/NIRA, an amendment to the model for the medical certificate, future crewing requirements and work related to the ES-RIS 2027/1.
 

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In the field of technical requirements for vessels
 
At the meeting, the CESNI examined the draft of ES-TRIN 2027/1, the European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels, and the outstanding issues. The standard will be included on the agenda of the next CESNI meeting, to be held on 15 October 2026, with a view to its adoption. The main amendments relative to the 2025/1 edition concern the Track Guidance Assistants for Inland Navigation (TGAIN), the storage and use of gaseous hydrogen as an alternative energy source, and the reorganisation of the transitional provisions for existing vessels.
 
The CESNI also approved the creation of a new temporary working group on navigation and information equipment, remote operation and automation (CESNI/PT/NIRA). In concrete terms, this new body will support the development of a test standard for TGAIN and will subsequently develop technical requirements applicable to remote operation. The Member States and the industry – particularly shipowners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers – have expressed strong interest in this new temporary working group: their involvement and expertise will be essential for the work ahead. The aim is to facilitate the development of innovation while ensuring the safety and ease of navigation, and ensuring feasibility for the sector.
 
In the field of crew requirements
 
The model for the medical certificate developed by the CESNI allows for the examination of fitness (physical and mental) in inland navigation. An amendment to this model of certificate was approved at the CESNI meeting on 16 April and provides for the removal of the current footnote. This simple removal allows approved doctors, based on their professional medical judgement, to determine a limited period of fitness for an individual. This will make it possible to take into account certain progressive conditions such as obesity or abnormal body mass, even if no explicit time limit appears in the ES-QIN medical fitness criteria for the condition in question. The new model may now be used by the Member States in their national legislation.
 
In addition, the discussions focused on future crewing requirements currently being developed within the dedicated working group. For the time being, work is mainly to do with the minimum crew for motor vessels. The Committee also took note of the progress made on e-tools (digital logbooks, service record books and certificates of qualification). At the April meeting, the CESNI Member States and the social partners formally declared their full support for the key principle of harmonising the qualification of engineer under Directive (EU) 2017/2397. Indeed, the qualification of the engineer is not currently covered by the directive on the recognition of professional qualifications in inland navigation. However, the engineer is a key qualification for the full implementation of both e-tools and crewing requirements.
 
In the field of information technologies
 
The CESNI examined the draft of the ES-RIS 2025/1, the European Standard for River Information Services. This is due to be adopted at the CESNI meeting in October, along with the ES-TRIN 2027/1. This new edition of the ES-RIS includes the following major changes:

• The addition of requirements and test methods regarding the display of the TGAIN on Inland ECDIS;
• The restructuring and modernisation of PAXLST (passenger and crew list) and ERIRSP (response functions to sent messages) messages;
• The test standard for ASMs (Application Specific Messages, which transmit information via AIS such as ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival – for example);
• The addition of new codes for notices to skippers;
• The addition of Ukrainian for notices to skippers;
• The possibility for the competent authorities to experiment the transmission by the profession of information derived from eFTI in electronic messages.

Finally, the CESNI welcomes the publication of the revised RIS Directive (2025/2482), which will enter into force across all EU Member States by January 2029 at the latest and which explicitly refers to the latest adopted version of the ES-RIS for all RIS technical specifications.
 
Participants at the meeting
 
The meeting of the Committee was attended by:

• 11 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland;
• the European Commission, the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR);
• 2 approved organisations: EBU, ESO.

Upcoming meeting
 
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 15 October 2026 (pm).