Carriage of goods and persons by inland waterway: conditions for obtaining national boatmasters' certificates

In confirming its general endorsement of the proposal for a directive, the ESC urged the Commission to take steps to ensure the timely mutual recognition and harmonisation of certificates in general, including those required to sail sea-going vessels and pleasure craft. As regards the minimum age for obtaining the certificate, since a boatmaster was always responsible for crew management, and bearing in mind the provision of Article 7(1), the ESC felt that a minimum age of 21 years should be regarded as more appropriate.