Pleasure Boating on Flemish Waterways
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PLEASURE BOATING ON FLEMISH WATERWAYS WATERWAY VIGNETTE OPERATING TIMES SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY BOATING RULES OPERATION MARINAS, MOORINGS SAFETY ON THE WATER AND BERTHS HIGH-SPEED ZONES WWW.VLAAMSEWATERWEG.BE ENGLISH TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents and introduction............................. p. 2 What do you need? ................................................................. p. 4 Waterway vignette .................................................................. p. 6 Map Sunday and public holiday operation .............. p. 8 In the spotlight ............................................................................ p. 9 Safety on the water - Sailing together ......................................................................... p. 10 - Hazardous goods ...................................................................... p. 11 - Life jackets ................................................................................... p. 12 - Emergencies ................................................................................. p. 13 Q&A ...................................................................................................... p. 14 Map canoe, kayak and stand up paddle ................... p. 16 boarding (SUP) Map high-speed zones ............................................................ p. 17 Operating times .......................................................................... p. 20 Managers contact details ..................................................... p. 48 Alphabetical index operating times ............................. p. 49 Interesting publications and useful addresses ...... p. 50 Removable inner flap - Sailing rules - Marinas and mooring places 2 Recreational boating on the Flemish Waterways DEAR PLEASURE CRAFT SKIPPER, Flanders has more than 1,000 km of navigable waterways. In our position as waterways manager, we are fully committed to multifunctional use of this asset. At De Vlaamse Waterweg nv (Flemish Waterways plc), we want to significantly increase the share of transport via inland waterways and to manage flooding and water shortages better. We also want to take full advantage of the versatility of our waterways and increase their attractiveness for urban and municipal developments, recreation, tourism and natural experiences. In this brochure, we will pay specific attention to pleasure will take you past picturesque villages, unspoilt countryside, craft. During recent years, both strengthened natural and castles, medieval town centres, nature reserves and top tourist landscape values and improved infrastructure have ensured attractions. All accessible at the incomparably relaxing pace of that the Flemish waterways have become ideal for all facets being on a waterway. of recreational activities on and around the water. We are experiencing continuing interest in the wide range of recreational This brochure is full of information about the possibilities for opportunities that the waterways have to offer. That is hardly recreational use of our waterways. Besides information about surprising, when one considers how wonderful it is to spend VisuRIS (The 'River Information Service' covering Flemish time on the water! waterways), it offers the operating times for locks and movable bridges, general maps, some important boating rules and an There are so many recreational activities: canoeing, water skiing, overview of what is required to operate recreational craft in cruising and much more. Moreover, you do not have to own a Flanders. And we give you tips on where to find more information vessel; you can also rent one or enjoy a trip with one of the on each point. That data will help you enjoy your voyage on the many inland waterway cruise ships. The winding waterways waterways, safely and without hindrance. All the information in this brochure and current operating times are also available at www.vlaamsewaterweg.be and www.VisuRIS.be. If you have any questions or comments about a particular waterway, please do not hesitate to contact us. We wish you lots of pleasure on our Flemish waters! De Vlaamse Waterweg nv (a merger of nv De Scheepvaart and Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV) manages and operates the waterways as a powerful network that contributes to the Flanders economy, prosperity and the livability of the area. De Vlaamse Waterweg nv supports transport via inland shipping, handles water management and increases the attractiveness of the waterways for recreation, tourism and natural experiences. From the registered office in Hasselt and departments in Willebroek, Brussels, Antwerp, Merelbeke and Mol, approximately 1,350 employees in our organization are working on a smart, versatile and prosperous waterway network. For more information, visit www.vlaamsewaterweg.be or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. VISIRIS De Vlaamse Waterwegen nv is pleased to introduce you to VisuRIS. This service is not only essential for commercial shipping; it is also a very useful tool for recreational craft. You can consult VisuRIS online and find all the relevant information you need, at any time and anywhere. This system gives you access to our handy planner to map out the smoothest route for your voyage, and you will find plenty of practical tips and helplines in the brochure. Recreational craft users ask and VisuRIS provides the answers. www.VisuRIS.be 3 WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE ALLOWED TO SAIL IN FLANDERS? INLAND NAVIGATION REGULATIONS IN BELGIUM In 2014, a sixth state reform took place in Belgium. In the case of recreational craft use, the change introduced regionalisation of the general shipping regulations. The Belgian regions, including Flanders, are responsible for that nowadays. Nevertheless, the federal government also retained an important authority regarding recreational craft use. It remains, among other things, responsible for the equipment and registration of the craft and also for the boating certificates. SHIPPING REGULATIONS GENERAL REGULATIONS The general regulations applicable to the vast majority of waterways: General Police Regulations for Shipping on Inland Waterways (APSB) General Regulations for Shipping channels in the Kingdom (ARSK) This general regulation is based on CEVNI 4 (The European Code for Inland Navigation Channels). The regulations are therefore in accordance with those of neighbouring countries. Note – exceptions are possible. SPECIFIC REGULATIONS A separate regulation applies to a number of waterways: 2 4 3 1 6 5 WATERWAY REGULATIONS 1 Open sea and the waters that are connected to it International provisions to prevent collisions at sea Police and shipping regulations for Belgian territorial waters, coastal ports and Belgian territorial waters, coastal ports and beaches 2 beaches 3 The Ghent-Terneuzen canal Shipping regulations for the Ghent-Terneuzen canal Police regulations for the Lower-Zeescheldt 4 The Lower-Zeescheldt ('Beneden-Zeeschelde') Shipping regulations for the Lower-Zeescheldt 5 The Brussels-Scheldt canal Shipping regulations for the Brussels-Scheldt canal 6 The Common Maas ('Gemeenschappelijke Maas') Shipping regulations for the Common Maas 4 Recreational boating on the Flemish Waterways For most waterways there are special regulations that include now merged into one document entitled General Temporary location-related operational provisions: Special regulations Regulations for the waterway user. applying to some shipping lanes. The waterway management can communicate temporary In recent years, the waterways management has published messages in the form of a shipping message. various shipping messages (Notices To Skippers – NTS messages) You can find a summarized overview of the boating rules in the that have a long-term effect. In order to give our users a centre of this brochure. complete overview at a glance, all long-term NTS messages are WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? OTHER REGULATIONS We have put all the information and texts in one place for For all the information, please visit you, at www.VisuRIS.be/scheepvaartreglementering. www.VisuRIS.be/reglementeringpleziervaart. WHAT IF RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION SKIPPER Federal Public Service (FOD) Mobility and Transport, Boating certificate or ICC Length ≥ 15 m OR speed > 20 km/h Secretariat for pleasure boating licences, Natiënkaai 5, 8400 Ostend, 0032 (0) 59 56 14 80, [email protected] Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommuni- cations, Ellipse Building - Building C, BMR Service, King Radio operators certificate Marine telephone Albert II avenue 35, 1030 Brussels, 0032 (0) 2 226 88 53 and 57 (between 09:00 and 12:00), [email protected] VESSEL Small vessel (hull length < 20 m), except: competition Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, vessel, canoe and kayak, gondola and pedal boat, [email protected], Registration sailboard, surfboard, inflatable boat not suitable for 0032 (0) 2 277 35 31 motor, raft, hull length < 2.5 m unless water scooter Brussels pleasure craft office, (jet ski) Vooruitgangstraat 56, 1210 Brussels Speed rating Speed > 20 km/h Working times: Tuesday and Friday from 09:00 to 11:45 Ostend pleasure craft office, Natiënkaai 5, 8400 Ostend Working times: Tuesday and Thursday from 09:00 to 11:45 Ghent pleasure craft office, 2.5 m ≤ length ≤ 24 m, except: kayaks, pedal boats Certificate of registration* Port Arthurlaan 12, 9000 Ghent and sea fishing with paying passengers *** Working times: Tuesday and Thursday from 09:00 to 11:45 Antwerp pleasure craft office, Posthoflei 5, 2600 Antwerp (Berchem) no desk Tonnage certificate, inland waterway