The Danube Commission can recognize the documents of the river fleet of Ukraine as European Standards

The Ukrainian delegation at the meeting of the working group of the Danube Commission insists on the recognition of the European standard of documents issued by the Shipping Register of Ukraine to inland navigation vessels.

This year, the Ukrainian delegation is again participating in the meeting of the working group of the Danube Commission (DK) on technical issues. The main topic of discussion is the recognition by DC member countries of the validity of ship documents issued to inland navigation vessels by DC member countries that are not European Union states.

“Today, within the framework of the European Union and the powers of the Danube Commission, of which Ukraine is a full member, a discussion is ongoing regarding the accession of our country to the implementation of the European standard that establishes technical requirements for inland navigation vessels (ES-TRIN) in Danube navigation. Yes, on the one hand, Ukraine is a full member of the DC, on the other hand, it is not yet a member of the European Union,” said Oleksandr Riffa, director of the State Enterprise Classification Society Register of Shipping of Ukraine, which this year is part of the Ukrainian delegation.

The discussion of the situation surrounding this issue has been going on for several years. This time in Budapest, the Ukrainian delegation hopes for a specific position of the Danube Commission, the purpose of which is to protect the interests of the countries of the Danube basin.

“Ukraine approves the efforts of the member countries of the Danube Commission to find a compromise solution to an important issue for our country – recognition of compliance with European standards of ship documents issued to inland navigation vessels by the national classification society – the Register of Shipping of Ukraine,” Riffa added.

According to him, Ukraine does not ask for special preferences or a special approach regarding the application of the technical requirements set forth in Directive (EU) 2016/1629 to inland navigation vessels flying the flag of Ukraine.

“The Register as an enterprise, the main activities of which are related to ensuring the safety of shipping, is constantly improving its own regulatory and technical base and cooperates with international and European specialized structures. Moreover, we have already synchronized our own Rules and domestic norms in the field of shipping with the relevant EU norms,” ​​said Oleksandr Riffa.

Also, the head of the national classification society addressed the members of the Danube Commission with a proposal: if there are any doubts regarding compliance with the requirements of the European standards of the Rules of the Shipping Register of Ukraine, the company is ready for any audits by the member countries of the DC.