Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

Article 16.05 Craft suitable for towing

1. Craft intended for towing shall meet the following requirements:

(a) the towing devices shall be arranged in such a way that their use does not compromise the safety of the craft, crew or cargo;

(b) tugging and towing craft shall be fitted with a tow hook which shall be capable of being released safely from the wheelhouse; this shall not apply if the design or other fittings prevent capsizing;

(c) towing devices shall consist of winches or a tow hook. The towing devices shall be located ahead of the propeller plane. This requirement shall not apply to craft that are steered by their propulsion units such as rudder propellers or cycloidal propellers;

(d) by way of derogation from the requirements of (c), for craft solely giving — in accordance with applicable navigational authority regulations of the Member States — towing assistance to motorised craft, a towing device such as a bollard or an equivalent device shall suffice. Point (b) shall apply mutatis mutandis;

(e) where the towing cables could snag on the stern of the vessel, deflector hoops with cable catchers shall be provided.

2. Craft of length L exceeding 86 m shall not be authorised for towing downstream.