31.12.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 373/29 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 16 December 1991 on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters’ certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway (91/672/EEQC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas it is appropriate to work for the establishment of common provisions concerning the sailing of inland waterways vessels on inland waterways in the Community; Whereas, it is appropriate, as a first step, with a view to promoting free navigation on inland waterways in the Community, to achieve the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters’ certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway; Whereas additional requirements relating to knowledge of local situations may have to be satisfied for the purposes of navigation on certain inland waterways, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 For the purpose of this Directive, the national boatmasters’ certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway, as referred to in Annex I, shall be’ subdivided as follows: Group A: boatmasters’ certificates valid for waterways of a maritime character as indicated in Annex II, Group B: boatmasters’ certificates valid for the other waterways in the Community, with the exception of the Rhine, the Lek and the Waal. (1) OJ No C 120, 7. 5. 1988, p. 7. (2) O] No C 12, 16. 1. 1989, p. 41. (3) O] No C 318, 12. 12. 1988, p. 18. Article 2 Subject to the provisions of Article 3 (5), the Rhine navigation licence for boatmasters issued in accordance with the revised Convention for the Navigation of the Rhine shall be valid for all waterways in the Community. Article 3 1. Boatmasters’ certificates which are still in force and are listed in Group A in Annex I shall be recognized by all Member States as valid for the purposes of navigation on the waterways of a maritime character listed in Annex I, as if they had issued the certificates in question themselves. 2. Member States shall reciprocally recognize the boatmasters’ certificates which are still in force and are listed in Group B of Annex I as valid for the purposes of navigation on their inland waterways apart from those for which the Rhine navigation licence is required or which are listed in Annex II, as if they had issued the certificates themselves. ' 3. Recognition by a Member State of a boatmasters’ certificate listed in Group A or Group B of Anhex I may be made subject to the satne miminum age conditions as those laid down in the Member State in question for the issue of a boatmasters’ certificate in the same group. 4. Recognition by a Member State of a boatmasters’ certificate may be limited to those categories of vessels for which this certificate is valid in the Member State which issued it. 5. ‘Subject to consultation of the Commission and the other Member States, a Member State may require that, for the purposes of navigation on certain waterways other than the waterways of a maritime character as indicated in Annex II, boatmasters from other Member States satisfy additional conditions concerning knowledge of the local situation equivalent to those required for its national boatmasters. 6. This Directive shall not prevent a Member State requiring additional knowledge on the part of boatmasters sailing vessels transporting dangerous substances on its territory. Member States shall recognize the certificate issued in accordance with the number 10 170 of the ADNR as proof of this knowledge.