Inland Rules

Inland rules along the Danube-Black Sea Canal and the Poarta Alba-Midia Navodari Canal

CHAPTER I

General provisions
Art. 1. - According to hereby provisions, the present terminology stands for the following definitions:
a) the National Company “Administration of Navigable Canals” S.H. Constantza - is a national company subordinated to the Ministry of Transport, Constructions and Tourism which acts as port authority and as waterway, along the Danube-Black Sea Canal and the Poarta Alba-Midia Navodari Canal and in the ports located along, hereinafter called “Administration of Navigable Canals”;
b) shipmaster - a person who has adequate skills and competence to provide ships management on inland waterways and who carries out his duties on board;
c) traffic surveyors - employees of the Administration of Navigable Canals who work at the Dispatching Centres and provide information and support to ships transiting waterways in order to ensure a safe efficient traffic within their assigned area, according to hereby provisions;
d) pushed convoy of barges - a rigid barge unit from which, at least one, is placed ahead of the power-propelled barge ensuring the propulsion of the convoy of barges, called pusher;
e) couple convoy of barges - a barge unit which is coupled alongside, none of which being placed ahead of the power-propelled barge ensuring the group’s propulsion;
f) fleet - any group of barges consisting of one or several barges, floating units or floating assembled units which are towed by one or several power-propelled barges, part of the fleet, called tow boat;
g) standard convoy of barges - a convoy of barges for which waterways and locks have been dimensioned;
h) lockage - transit of the convoy of barges from one canal pool to another canal pool through the lock referred to;
i) special shipment - is the fleet transport, namely:
- sailing of sporting and pleasure boats, of constructions or floating installations which are non- propelled;
- sailing of pushed convoys of barges which get beyond standard loading gauge;
- transport of dangerous cargoes such as radioactive goods, explosives and any similar goods;
j) pass - sailing of convoy of barges between two points located along waterways;
k) fishing tackles - all utensils used both for industrial and individual fishing which may - once they are used - prejudice safe navigation along waterways, namely: trawls, nets, stake nets, tunnel-nets, fish hooks and, generally, everything mounted for fishing, for a longer period of time, without monitoring.
Art. 2. - The Danube-Black Sea Canal and the Poarta Alba-Midia Navodari Canal, hereinafter called waterways, are Romanian national inland waterways, exclusively under Romania’s jurisdiction and statehood.
Art. 3. - Hereby inland rules are implemented both for the Danube-Black Sea Canal and the Poarta Alba-Midia Navodari Canal, hereinafter called DBSC and PAMNC, and in ports located on them.
Art. 4. - The waterways’s pass is allowed to all ships, no matter their flag, sailing independently or in convoy, subject to the observance of the regulation in force concerning navigation rules, sanitary rules, customs rules, rules for pollution’s prevention and control, of using port docks and facilities, and also rules concerning waterways’s operation and maintenance, provided by the Romanian laws in force.
Art. 5. - During the pass, the monitoring and supervision of navigation along waterways shall be accomplished by ANC via its dispatchers co-ordinated from the Central Dispatcher, whose provisions are compulsory for all shipmasters during the pass.
Art. 6. - Under the present rules:
- along the DBSC, falling down means from the Danube to the Black Sea, and falling up means from the Black Sea to the Danube;
- along the PAMNC, falling down means from the DBSC to Navodari, and falling up means from Navodari to the DBSC.

CHAPTER II

Inland ships and convoys of barges
Art. 7. - (1) Inland navigation is made by inland ships and sea ships which sail independently or in pushed, fleet or coupled convoys of barges without exceeding the standard gauges, as follows:
A. along the DBSC:
a) convoys of barges:
- maximum length = 296 m;
- maximum width = 23.5 m;
- maximum draft = 5.5 m;
b) inland ships and sea ships sailing independently:
- maximum length = 138.3 m;
- maximum width = 16.8 m;
- maximum draft = 5.5 m;
c) the maximum lift from the water line up to the ship’s highest reckoning shall be 16.5 m both in cases such as those mentioned at a) and at b);
B. along the PAMNC:
a) convoys of barges:
- maximum length = 120 m;
- maximum width = 11.5 m;
- maximum draft = 3.8 m;
b) inland ships and sea ships sailing independently:
- maximum length = 110 m;
- maximum width = 11.5 m;
- maximum draft = 3.8 m;
c) the maximum lift from the water line up to the ship’s highest reckonirig shall be 12.5 m both in cases such as those mentioned at a) and at b).
Art. 8. - (1) Special transports shall be performed only with ANC’ special approval and in ANC’s terms and conditions.
(2) It is forbidden for any self-propelled ship which pushes, tows or carries other coupled ships to leave them along the waterway before she puts in. If required, the mastership shall inform the dispatcher about this. The dispatcher shall tell him where he may berth. All along the ships’ stay, the ship-owner shall ensure the ship’s berthing and safety on his account.
(3) If the self-propelled ship breaks, the ship-owner/operator shall replace her with a similar one or he shall request ANC to perform the transport referred to, on charge.
(4) Sailing ships and rafts are forbidden to sail along waterways.
Art. 9. - (1) For safe navigation, in case of pushed convoys of barges or of fleets, pushers/tugs shall have enough power which may provide minimum 6.7 mt/HP along the DBSC, respectively 6 mt/HP along the PAMNC.
(2) If convoys of barges do not comply with the ratio referred to in paragraph no .(l), then the shipment referred to shall be considered special shipment.
CHAPTER III
Inland rules concerning ships and convoys of barges entry and exit along waterways
Art. 10. - (1) Ships and convoys of barges entry and exit in/out of waterways is allowed only with the ANC’s approval and according to the lockage’s timetable established by ANC and conveyed to ships by the traffic surveyors.
(2) In order to schedule the waterways pass, the ship-owner, operator or carrier must send the “Notice of arrival” to ANC almost 6 hours before the ships and convoys of barges arrival into the road.
(3) The notice shall comply with the form and content stipulated in Annex no. 1.
Art. 11. - (1) When ships/convoys of barges enter into the road, their masters shall confirm by radiophone if ships/convoys of barges are technically fitted to pass.
(2) At the same time, the ships/convoys of barges masters shall confirm that data mentioned in the Notice, according to Art. 10, have not been changed or they shall inform of changes which arose between the Notice’ sending and the ship’s arrival into the road.
(3) ANC is entitled to check the data sent by the maşter.
Art . 12. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges must carry on board all necessary valid documents, according to laws in force and make them available for the ANC.
(2) Masters shall make available one copy of cargo documents for ANC, per each barge.
(3) While sailing along waterways or operating in ports located along them, shall have on board a minimum necessary crew, according to the laws in force.
Art. 13. - At the traffic surveyors’s request, masters shall communicate by radiophone the information about ship’s/convoy of barges’s gauge, cargo on board, quantity of ballast or any other information concerning ship or cargo loaded on her.
Art . 14. - If the need arises, namely making effective use of lockages, unfavorable weather conditions, at ANC’s request, masters shall modify the convoy’s configuration.
Art. 15. - Ships or convoys of barges access in waterways is forbidden in the following situations:
a) ships are loaded over watermark;
b) ships do not have on board all documents and certificates stipulated by the laws in force or they are not valid;
c) ships may affect the navigation’safety measures along waterways;
d) ships carry dangerous cargoes, and they:
- are not stated in the cargo documents on board or do not have all authorizations stipulated by the laws in force with regard to the shipment referred to;
- are forbidden to be shipped;
e) ships are listed with more than 4 degrees.
Art. 16. - (1) Berth and convoy’s formation area entering the Canal is located on the Danube’s right bank, between km 297.3 and km 298.3, a width of 150 m called Cernavoda road/harbor, from the fairway’s right limit, up to + 100 cm from Cernavoda’s road or according to the area signallings when waters go below this level.
(2) Berth and convoy’s formation area in Constanta or Midia ports for entering the Canal is located in the fluvial-maritime dock/basin, called Constanta fluvial road, respectively Midia fluvial road.
(3) Berth and convoys formation areas for the PAMN are the waiting waterfronts of Medgidia and Basarabi ports.
Art. 17. - (1) Before entering the waterways and all along their pass, ships/convoys of barges are not allowed to have out of board things which may endanger the safety of other ships, of floating or fixed installations posted along, and anchors shall be posted.
(2) ANC can decide the temporary closure of inland navigation if unfavorable weather conditions may occur or ice may arise, also if dredging or water operations are performed, or from other reasons, inland navigation is endangered.
Art. 18. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges entering into fairways shall be ranged according to their arrival into the road.
(2) Masters must advice the arrival into the road with, at least, 2 hours earlier.
(3) Inspection ships, ANC’ ships and those with special assigned mission shall be given priority when entering/exiting inland waterways.
Art. 19. - Getting in/out inland waterways ships shall sail with a safety speed and with special care and shall send warning signals.
Art. 20. - Getting out from the DBSC to the Danube or from the PAMNC to the DBSC ships/convoys of barges shall not sail the main waterway and shall not cross it if, by this, they shall force ships/convoys of barges sailing along the main waterway to modify their way or speed.
Art. 21. - Ship or convoy of barges which is about to get in the waterway shall wait for those engaged in getting out. Ships meeting at the waterways entrances shall not be allowed.
Art. 22. - Ships or convoys of barges berthing in Cernavoda harbor or in fluvial basins from Constantza-South or Midia ports shall berth in a manner which shall not disturb the getting in/out of inland waterways and shall observe the port’s authorities directions.
Art. 23. - After berthing, ships/convoys of barges shall report the zonal dispatcher on the berthing hour and position and shall ask for transiting directions.

CHAPTER IV

Shipment of dangerous cargoes
Art. 24. - Shipment of dangerous cargoes along inland waterways shall be performed in accordance with the regulation in force and with internaţional stipulations conceming it, which Romania has joined in.
Art. 25. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges which ship dangerous cargoes shall be allowed to lock and pass inland waterways only during daytime, one hour before sunrise, respectively one hour after sunset.
(2) Ships/convoys of barges which ship dangerous cargoes shall send the “Notice of transit” to ANC by 12 hours and then by 6 hours before their arrival into the road/harbor.
(3) Information on cargo shall contain its accurate technical name, its specification and the mention if packed and labeled, as per internaţional requirements conceming the shipment of dangerous cargoes.
Art. 26. - (1) The maximum number of barges for a pushed convoy of barges shipping dangerous cargoes shall be of 4(four) barges, by twos per berth; in the event of couple convoy of barges, two barges shall be allowed, while the dangerous cargoes’s pass in a fleet shall not be allowed.
(2) In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, ANC can forbid the getting in inland waterways of ships/convoys of barges which ship dangerous cargoes or ANC can dispose the cut of barges which form the convoy of barges.
Art. 27. - Ships/convoys of barges’s pass which ship dangerous cargoes shall be scheduled such as to avoid, as much as possible, the lockage waiting time after they got in the fairway.
Art. 28. - Ships/convoys of barges which ship dangerous cargoes shall not be allowed to lock at the same time with passenger ships.
Art. 29. - Ships/convoys of barges which ship dangerous cargoes classified in the lst class - explosives, nuclear goods and suchlike - shall not be allowed to stay between km 64+400 and km 58+000.
Art. 30. - Empty tankers shall be allowed to pass only if they are gas emptied and have a probatory certificate (document).

CHAPTER V

Sailing of inland ports
Art. 31. - Ships/convoys of barges bounded for inland ports shall comply with ANC’s directives With this in view, shipmasters shall permanently get in touch with the dispatcher in order to fix the waiting place and receive directions conceming the permit to enter into the port.
Art. 32. - (1) The waiting places for ships/convoys of barges are located in ports neighbourhood. In order that sailing shall not be disturbed, the stay in these places shall be made at most in two rows. These places are for the disconnection or forming of convoys of barges which are about to get in/out from the basin.
(2) Not-propelled ships shall not be allowed to stay in waiting places with no appropriate surveillance.
Art. 33. - Entry/exit manoeuvre in/from the port and also leaving the waiting place shall be made only with the traffic surveyor’s approval. Shipmaster shall pay special attention when performing entry/exit manoeuvre in/from the port basin so that they shall not affect or close the sailing of ships/convoys of barges along waterways or those which are undertaking manoeuvres into the port’s berths.
Art. 34. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges shall not be allowed to cross each other when getting in/out from port.
(2) Staying into ports’berth shall not be allowed for more than 2 ships in double row.
Art. 35. - Ships/convoys of barges sailing nearby waiting places shall take measures to speed down their way not to endanger the ships staying there.
Art. 36. - (1) Along waterways and in ports located on them, safety services, respectively pilot services for ships which get in/out from ports, those performed for berths of the same port and along waterways, berthing, unmooring, towage manoeuvre inside ports shall be provided by ANC or by companies ANC has authorized.
(2) Inland ships passing waterways shall be obliged to have on board a man who shall have a skipper licence - A or B class - issued in compliance with internaţional agreements and stipulations to which Romania has joined or admitted by the Romanian Naval Authority.
(3) Supposing an inland ship which pass waterways shall ask for assistance from a man/person who owns a skipper licence according to paragraph no. (2), the person referred to shall be put in the ship’s readiness only by companies authorized by ANC.

CHAPTER VI

Inland rules and locks passage
Art. 37. - During their pass, ships and convoys of barges shall keep in touch with the Dispatcher by radiophone and permanently listen on radio channels corresponding to frequencies which have been assigned according to the sailing area, as follows:
a) operating channel VHF 74 - on 156.725 MHz for Agigea between km 0+000 and km 15+000;
b) operating channel VHF 71 - on 156.575 MHz for Basarabi, Medgidia between km 15+000 and km 49+000 and for the entire PAMN Canal;
c) operating channel VHF 14 - on 156.700 MHz for Cernavoda between km 49+000 and km 64+410.
Art. 38. - (1) Maximum speed along the DBSC shall be 12 km/h, minimum speed shall be 6.5 km/h. Along the PAMN Canal, maximum speed shall be 10 km/h and minimum speed shall be 6.5 km/h.
(2) Ships/convoys of barges’s skippers shall observe the commands of the traffic surveyors as far as the sailing speed is concerned so that they shall not endanger the safety of water structures, of other ships and convoys of barges on the march, riding at anchor or berthing.
(3) ANC shall be entitled to authorize (approve), for solid valid reasons, ships/convoys of barges’s sailing with higher or lower speeds than the established limits.
Art. 39. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges passing up shall allow those falling down the river.
(2) During bad weather conditions, loaded ships/convoys of barges shall al low the passage of unladen ones, no matter the sailing direction shall be.
(3) If ANC shall temporary close sailing along waterways due to bad weather conditions, then ships/convoys of barges must stay ashore up to the admissible limit and moor with two anchors ahead or in the designated quay.
Art. 40. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges cross shall be performed, as a rule, in the port. For this reason, ships/convoys of barges shall steer to the starboard up to the admissible limit and let space in between in order to keep the fairway with no danger of collision.
(2) Along the PAMN Canal, convoys of barges exceeding over standard loading gauges shall be forbidden to cross with other ships/convoys of barges, except in the locks’s waiting places.
Art. 41. - (1) Going by shall be allowed only in places which give safety conditions for river ships sailing independently both up and down the river, and only with the area traffic surveyor’s approval in advance.
(2) Sea ships and river ships which sail in convoy shall not be allowed to pass, except for the situations when the ship/convoy of barges which is about to be overtaken may draw back in a safe area chosen by the traffic surveyor and approved by the skipper, without an impact upon the traffic from the other sailing direction.
(3) During night time, it is forbidden - for all kind of ships - to pass in water turns, in traffic lights areas, under the bridges and in hollow areas, when these are operative.
(4) It is forbidden, for all kind of ships, to sail in-line on the same direction, except for the passings.
Art. 42. ANC’s ships, patrol and rescue ships shall be excepted from the provisions of Art.39 paragraph (3), art.40 and 41.
Art. 43. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges shall not come close to each others for less than 1,500 m on the march down the river and for less than 1,000 m on the march up the river, except for passing between isolated river ships.
(2) on low view or bad weather conditions, distance between ships/convoys of barges shall be at least of 2,000 m on the march down the river and of 1,500 m on the march up the river.
Art. 44. - No ship shall be allowed to cross ahead ships which are on the march, less than 1,5000 m away from each other.
Art. 45. - (1) Lockage shall not be allowed on low view conditions.
(2) ships endowed with radio location which goes strong shall be allowed to sail on low view conditions, only with the traffic surveyors’s approval. Ships which are not endowed with radio location must stop and follow the commands of the traffic surveyors.
Art. 46. - (1) Ships/convoys of barges shall be allowed to stay along waterways with ANC’s approval, only in proper set up places.
(2) During the stay, boats or other floating devices shall not be allowed to be floated.
Art. 47. - (1) Anchorage shall be allowed only in force majeure situations, ANC being notified, and shall be done only on the waterway’s horizontal bottom sector.
(2) It is forbidden, no matter the situation may be, to anchor in the areas which cross under pipes and cables.
(3) If ANC discovers that ship/convoy of barges lies in a sector which crosses under pipes and/or cables, then ANC shall ask skippers to go in a safe area.
Art. 48. - If sailing events may occur, ships/convoys of barges shall be stopped until issuance of acknowledge documents and signed by maşter, ANC’s representatives and port authority’s body.
Art. 49. - (1) Things or material shall not be thrown on waterways or on the water side.
(2) It is forbidden to pump ballast, wastewaters, bilge waters or waters which came from washing the tankers on board, also it is forbidden to overflow hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons mixtures, chemical and radioactive products into waterways.
Art. 50. - Captains of ships/convoys of barges must immediately inform the Dispatcher about hydrocarbons spots or about any other pollution marks from docks and/or along waterways, and also about any kind of things which may be considered obstacles.
Art. 51. - (1) On winter times with ice on water sides and/or small ice-floes, sailing shall be performed only on ANC’s terms.
(2) Sailing shall be not allowed when ice sheet occurs.
Art. 52. - It is forbidden, for all ships/convoys of barges to sail adrift, and also to drag anchors, chains, cables or lashings on waterways bottom.
Art. 53. - It is forbidden to put fishing nets or other fishing devices along waterways.
Art. 54. - If, while sailing, a ship loses an object which may stop or endanger sailing, the captain must indicate the place with a distinctive mark and immediately inform ANC and the port authority. The object shall be bring back or be on the ship owner/operator’s account.
Art. 55. - Ships/convoys of barges captains must obey all commands of the traffic surveyors and of the lock’s operator, concerning the order and way of getting in the lock.
Art. 56. - (1) Before getting in the lock, according to schedule, the ship’s/convoy’s of barges captain shall be bound to inform by radio that the ship/convoy of barge is able to enter it.
(2) the moment the ship/convoy of barges enters the lock, the captain shall also submit, except the ship’s and cargo’s documents, the declarative statement about ship’s/convoy’s of barges technical condition, stipulated in Annex no. 2.
Art. 57. - The captain of the ship/convoy of barges is directly responsible far all registerings signed on his behalf or on ship owner’s behalf, and also for documents or equipments committed to him during the waterways pass.
Art. 58. - (1) When ships/convoys of barges shall get in the lock, there will be at least 2 crew members endowed with fenders for the protection of ship and lock’s installations.
(2) For a reasonable locks’s use, ANC may sort the ships getting in.
(3) During getting into the lock’s chamber, the ship must use a radio channel to perform the manoeuvre, a different one from that mentioned in Art. no.37. Ship’s captain shall be bound to inform about the switching moment and the used radio channel.
(4) Passenger ships, container liners, special ships/convoys of barges, those which ship perishable special goods, patrol ships and ANC’s ships.
Art. 59. - (1) If the lock is taken by other ship/convoy of barges or, by certain reasons, the passage is stopped, then the ships/convoys of barges arriving into the road shall moor in the waiting berth up or down the river, only with the traffic surveyor’s approval and following his commands.
(2) During their stay/anchorage in the waiting berth, ships/convoys of barges shall stay on listening on the operating VHF lock channel, stipulated in Art.no.37, informing on any event which may arise on board and affect ship’s getting into the lock, her safety, the safety of cargo, crew and environment, or they shall answer to the Dispatcher’s requests.
Art. 60. - If, after the ship/convoy of barges gets the permission to pass and she is not readv for the lockage, the ship’s/convoy’s of barges captain shall be bound to inform ANC on time and shall be responsible for all consequences which may arise from changing the lockage’s schedule.
Art. 61. - During the lock’s emptying or filling in, the ship’s captain shall stay on his bridge. From the mooring moment till she gets leaving permit, the ship’s power-propelled devices/vehicles/tools shall not be used but on unusual events, for the lockage safety.
(2) At each bend from the ship to the lock’s bollards, there shall be permanently one member crew who, if bollards may block, shall release the bend. The ship’s captain shall immediately inform about the incident to the lock operator, by radiophone or frequent buzzer signals, the only ones allowed during lockage operation.
Art.62. - Chains, anchors or lashings shall not be launched during the stay.

CHAPTER VII

Final provisions
Art. 63. - Prejudicies brought to waterway’s constructions and installations shall be considered prejudicies brought to ANC which administrates them, and all damages issues from them shall borne by the owner of the ship/convoy of barge which have caused them, according to the laws in force.
Art. 64. - Infrigement of Art.49 provisions shall involve liabilities within the law, ANC being entitled to reclaim the arisen damages, from the owner of the ship/convoy of barge.
Art. 65. - Captains of ships/convoys of barges sailing along waterways shall inform ANC by radiophone about any event which may prejudice the sailing or the safety of ships, of water constructional works, of installations and of the environment.
Art. 66. - Signals used for signaling along waterways are given in Annex no.3 to hereby regulations.
Art. 67. - In so far as, if hereby regulations do not require otherwise, along waterways shall be applicable the provisions of the Inland Rules along the Romanian Danube sector and the Romanian laws in force.
Art. 68. - Infringement of the provisions of hereby regulations shall bring liabilities to those in fault, according to laws in force.
Art. 69. - Annexes no. 1-3 shall be part and parcei of hereby regulations.

ANNEX No.l

Notice of transit .............../Date ..................../Hour
NOTICE OF TRANSIT

1. Name of ship/convoy of barges .....................................................................
2. Flag ...........................................................................................................
3. Length of convoy of barges .........., width of convoy of barges ........................., maximum draft ...........
4. Owner ........................................................................................................
5. Ship’s agent ...............................................................................................
6. Technical data of convoy of barges:
- engine’s power
- maximum length
- maximum width
- maximum draft
- NRT (net register tonnage) ............... BRT ................. DWT
- Clearance (m)
7. Structure of convoy of barges:
Call sign of barge:
Maximum length (m)
Maximum width (m)
Maximum draft (m)
Maximum capacity on each barge (t)
Loading port
Port of discharge
Stevedore
8. Arrival date in the road
9. Harbour of departure
10. Destination harbor
11. Permit of the port administration the ship/convoy of barges shall operate in:
a) Transit fees paid as per order no .............. / .............. in our account no.
..................................................................... opened at ................................................................... Bank,
according to Contract ........................................................... .
b) Any additional or undercharge cost shall be regularized within 48 hours from the operation’s accomplishment.
12. Support from: - captain (name and surname) .......................................................................................
- Company ...........................................................
Manager,
........................

Download avizare.pdf

ANNEX No. 2

Date ..............................

Lock ......................

STATEMENT
conceming technical conditions of the ship/convoy of barges

Ship's model ................................................................................
Ship's name .................................................................................
Ship’s technical conditions:
- main engine ...............................................................................
- auxiliary engines .......................................................................
- steering-gear ..............................................................................
- shipping equipment ...................................................................
- status of hull .............................................................................
- mooring equipment ...................................................................
- tows and joints of convoy of barges .........................................
- signaling equipment ..................................................................
- radiophone ................................................................................
- fire detecting and fire extinction equipment ..............................
- rescue equipment ......................................................................
- quantity of ballast on board .......................................................
- quantity of residue in the bilge ..................................................
- quantity of refuse ......................................................................
Captain of ship/convoy of barges shall be responsible for all losses and damages due to unpropef technical conditions of the ship or of the convoy of barge.
Ship’s captain,
.........................
S.P.
Approved
Local dispatcher