Approved training programmes
| Training programme name | Diploma title or certificates awarded | Qualification type | Qualification/specific authorisation to which the diploma/certificate gives access | Body awarding the diploma/certificates | Year of entry into force of the approval / Issuing date | Approval authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschiffer / zur Binnenschifferin nach der
Verordnung über die Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschiffer/zur
Binnenschifferin vom 20. Januar 2005 (BGBl. I S. 121, 925) /Vocational training for inland skippers according to the legal act on vocational training for inland skippers from 20 January 2005 (BGBl. I p. 121, 925)
|
Abschluss des staatlich anerkannten Ausbildungsberufes Binnenschiffer oder
Binnenschifferin /Degree in the apprenticeship trade recognised by the state as inland skipper
|
Operational level |
Union certificate of qualification for boatman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 90 days as part of this approved training programme
Union certificate of qualification for able boatman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 270 days as part of this approved training programme
Union certificate of qualification for helmsman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 360 days as part of this approved programme and holds a radio operator’s certificate
|
Industrie- und Handelskammer Magdeburg/ Chamber of Industry and Commerce Magdeburg Niederrheinische Industrie- und Handelskammer Duisburg-Wesel-Kleve zu Duisburg/Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce Duisburg-Wesel- Kleve at Duisburg | in force 2021 | Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr - Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 4) Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt - Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 5) |
Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschiffer / zur Binnenschifferin nach der
Verordnung über die Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschiffer und zur
Binnenschifferin vom 2. März 2022 (BGBl. I S. 257)
= Vocational training for inland skippers according to the legal act on vocational training for inland skippers from 2 March 2022 (BGBl. I p. 257)
|
Abschluss des staatlich anerkannten Ausbildungsberufes Binnenschiffer oder
Binnenschifferin
= Degree in the apprenticeship trade recognised by the state as inland skipper
|
Operational level Passenger navigation expert |
Union certificate of qualification for boatman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 90 days as part of this approved training programme
Union certificate of qualification for able boatman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 270 days as part of this approved training programme
Union certificate of qualification for helmsman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 360 days as part of this approved programme and holds a radio operator’s certificate
Union certificate of qualification for passenger navigation expert if the applicant has chosen passenger navigation as focal point during the training programm
|
Industrie- und Handelskammer Magdeburg - Chamber of Industry and Commerce Magdeburg Niederrheinische Industrie- und Handelskammer Duisburg-Wesel-Kleve zu Duisburg- Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce Duisburg-Wesel- Kleve at Duisburg | in force 2022 | Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr - Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 4) Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt - Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 5) |
Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschifffahrtskapitän und zur
Binnenschifffahrtskapitänin nach der Verordnung über die Berufsausbildung zum Binnenschifffahrtskapitän und zur Binnenschifffahrtskapitänin vom 2.
März 2022 (BGBl. I S. 271)
= Vocational training for inland boatmasters according to the legal act on vocational training for captians in inland navigation from 2 March 2022 (BGBl.
I p. 271)
|
Abschluss des staatlich anerkannten Ausbildungsberufes
Binnenschifffahrtskapitän oder Binnenschifffahrtskapitänin
= Degree in the apprenticeship trade recognised by the state as captain in inland navigation
|
Operational level Management level |
Union certificate of qualification for helmsman, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 360 days as part of this approved programme and holds a radio operator’s certificate
Union certificate of qualification for boatmasters, if the applicant has accumulated navigation time of at least 360 days as part of this approved training programme or after completion thereof and holds a radio operator’s certificate.
|
Industrie- und Handelskammer Magdeburg - Chamber of Industry and Commerce Magdeburg Niederrheinische Industrie- und Handelskammer Duisburg-Wesel-Kleve zu Duisburg- Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce Duisburg-Wesel- Kleve at Duisburg | in force 2022 | Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr - Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 4) Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt - Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 5) |
Basic safety training
|
Models of certificates of attendance can be found under the following link: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/binschpersv/BJNR498210021BJNE016800000.html
|
Basic safety training | The list of approved basic safety training programmes can be found under the following link: https://www.elwis.de/DE/Binnenschifffahrt/Befaehigungsnachweise/Besatzung/Sicherheitsausbildung/Lehrgangsanbieter/Lehrgangsanbieter-node.html
CESNI standard
There are many other approved providers in Germany. However, these wish to provide basic safety training only for their own staff. Therefore, these providers are not published.
|
- | Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr - Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 4) Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt - Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency (for certificates of qualification referred to in Art. 5) |
Source: CESNI list of approved training programmes, updated March 2026.
European Commission source: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ca0f4562-d9b7-4429-be7d-e66028abfaf5_en?filename=List_of_approved_training_programmes.pdf
The « Approval authority » column does not come from that document: it is drawn from the CESNI list of competent authorities, matched by Member State.
These notifications have been made by Member States and do not commit the European Commission; in particular they are without prejudice to the assessment of the compatibility of national legislation with Directive (EU) 2017/2397. Only the Court of Justice of the European Union is competent to authoritatively interpret Union law.
Approved simulators
Source: CESNI list of approved simulators (Article 21), updated May 2026.
These notifications have been made by Member States and do not commit the European Commission; in particular they are without prejudice to the assessment of the compatibility of national legislation with Directive (EU) 2017/2397. Only the Court of Justice of the European Union is competent to authoritatively interpret Union law.