Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe
The Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe is a German certificate of competence for the operation of small passenger vessels on inland waterways. It is a specific form of the Kleinschifferzeugnis and applies to vessels carrying passengers under defined regulatory conditions.
Legal basis
The legal basis for this certificate is provided by German inland navigation personnel regulations, in particular the Binnenschiffspersonalverordnung (BinSchPersV). These regulations define categories of vessel operators and the required certificates of competence for passenger vessels on inland waterways.
The certificate applies to small passenger vessels that do not require a full professional inland navigation licence but still fall under specific safety and qualification requirements.
Scope
The Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe is a German certificate of competence for the operation of small passenger vessels on inland waterways. It applies to passenger vessels of less than 35 metres in length that are licensed to carry no more than 150 passengers, on federal waterways other than the Rhine.
The Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe applies to vessels used for the carriage of passengers on inland waterways under defined limits regarding vessel size and passenger capacity.
It is intended for operations that exceed purely private recreational use but do not reach the threshold requiring a full professional skipper's licence.
Requirements
Applicants for the certificate must demonstrate:
- practical experience in inland navigation
- knowledge of navigation rules and safety procedures
- competence in handling vessels carrying passengers
- understanding of passenger safety requirements
Additional requirements may include medical fitness and reliability in accordance with inland navigation regulations.
Examination
The examination for the certificate includes theoretical and practical components. It typically covers:
- inland navigation law
- vessel handling and manoeuvring
- passenger safety procedures
- emergency response
The practical component assesses the ability to safely operate a passenger vessel under typical inland conditions.
Administration
The Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe is issued by the competent German waterways authorities. Examination procedures are carried out in accordance with the inland navigation personnel regulations.
Position in the German certification system
The certificate occupies a specialized position within the German inland navigation system. It extends the scope of the Kleinschifferzeugnis to include passenger transport under defined conditions.
It is distinct from purely recreational licences such as the Sportbootführerschein Binnen and from full professional qualifications required for larger passenger vessels.
See also
- Nautical certificates of competency in Germany for commercial inland and seagoing navigation