Summary
To be able to carry goods by inland waterway, a company must hold a certificate of access to the occupation of carrier of goods by inland waterway.
In order for the company to obtain this certificate, a staff member must hold a certificate of professional competence.
Key points
The certificate is not compulsory for natural or legal persons who :
- exercise the occupation of carrier of goods by inland waterway using vessels with a deadweight tonnage at maximum draught of less than 15 metric tons;
- operate ferries.
The certificate of access to the occupation and the certificate of professional competence are valid for life.
In detail
1. You are a legal person:
- you have your registered office in Belgium; and
- you hold a certificate of professional competence.
2. You are a natural person:
- you hold Belgian nationality or are domiciled in Belgium; and
- you hold a certificate of professional competence.
1. You are a legal person:
- Print out and complete the application form;
- Send the application form and the following documents to the navigation office:
-
a photocopy of the company’s articles of association and any amendments thereto, published in the Moniteur belge / Belgisch Staatsblad (the Belgian official gazette); and
-
a photocopy of the certificate of professional competence; and
-
the business management agreement.
2. You are a natural person:
- Print out and complete the application form;
- Send the application form and the following documents to the navigation office:
-
a photocopy of your identity card, or if you are not a Belgian citizen, a residence certificate issued by the municipal authority where you live, except for holders of an E+ card (permanent residence card), for whom a photocopy of the E+ card will suffice;
-
a photocopy of the certificate of professional competence;
-
the business management agreement if you do not have a certificate of professional competence in your own name.
- Directive 87/540/CEE du Conseil du 9 novembre 1987 relative à l'accès à la profession de transporteur de marchandises par voie navigable dans le domaine des transports nationaux et visant à la reconnaissance mutuelle des diplômes, certificats et autres titres concernant cette profession ;
- Arrêté royal du 16 janvier 1996 relatif à l'accès à la profession de transporteur de marchandises par voie navigable dans le domaine des transports nationaux et internationaux.