prEN 1914
(Main)Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats
General Information
- Abstract
This document applies to:
- ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN;
- lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN1) is specified for the area of use;
- work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the construction site area and over comparatively short distances.
This document does not apply to:
- recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU;
- firefighting and water rescue boats.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 01-Nov-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 02-Jul-2026
- Due Date
- 14-Jun-2026
- Completion Date
- 02-Jul-2026
Overview
prEN 1914:2026 is a draft European standard developed by CEN (European Committee for Standardization) dedicated to inland navigation vessels' work boats, ship’s boats, and lifeboats. This standard addresses safety, design, testing, and equipment requirements for boats used on inland waterways, ensuring consistent quality and operational reliability for vessels compliant with ES-TRIN and related regulations. prEN 1914 supersedes EN 1914:2016 and incorporates updated references, enhanced fire protection criteria, and editorial changes to support safety and efficiency in inland navigation operations.
The scope explicitly covers:
- Work boats used for transporting a limited number of people or light working loads, typically used in construction site areas and over short distances.
- Ship’s boats designed to be carried on board inland navigation vessels, as referenced in ES-TRIN.
- Lifeboats, in cases where no area-specific life-saving equipment is mandated.
This standard does NOT apply to:
- Recreational craft under Directive 2013/53/EU,
- Firefighting and water rescue boats.
Key Topics
prEN 1914 covers several core aspects to standardize inland navigation auxiliary boats:
- General Requirements: Definitions, applicable vessel types, and safety requirements.
- Dimensions and Design: Main dimensions, ratios, and tolerances ensuring ergonomic and structural adequacy.
- Safety Criteria: Minimum freeboard, reserve buoyancy, and stability guidelines to prevent capsizing and ensure safe loading.
- Permissible Occupancy: Calculations for the maximum number of persons, taking into account boat volume, seat provision, and load limits.
- Construction Materials: Specification for weather-resistant, UV-resistant, and fire-retardant materials with standards for plastics and inflatable boat components.
- Equipment: Minimum required equipment (rowlocks, oars, towing rings, lifelines), with additional provisions for motorized and inflatable boats, including bailers, buoyant painters, and emergency gear.
- Performance and Testing: Procedures for stability, manoeuvrability (rowing and motor operation), recovery operations, and strength (drop, towing, and recovery tests).
- Marking and Identification: Requirements for reflective markings, lifejacket warning labels, and a permanent manufacturer’s plate with key information.
Applications
Implementing prEN 1914 benefits a range of stakeholders in the inland waterway sector:
- Vessel Operators: Enhances safety, reliability, and compliance for work boats and lifeboats carried on board, supporting everyday operations and emergency preparedness.
- Shipbuilders & Equipment Manufacturers: Provides standardized dimensions, construction criteria, and testing procedures to streamline production, assessment, and certification.
- Construction Site Management: Ensures appropriate work boat selection and ensures that boats used for transporting personnel and loads at construction sites meet necessary safety requirements.
- Regulatory Inspectors & Auditors: Facilitates clear inspection criteria for both new and in-service vessels, aligning with Directive (EU) 2016/1629, Rhine Vessel Inspection Regulations, and ES-TRIN requirements.
- Crew Training & Maintenance: Standardized instructions for use, maintenance, emergency procedures, and regular testing to uphold safety and operational standards.
Related Standards
Organizations and professionals referring to prEN 1914 will often work within an integrated compliance environment. Key related standards and regulatory documents include:
- ES-TRIN (European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels)
- Directive (EU) 2016/1629: Technical requirements and inspection of inland waterway vessels
- EN ISO 6185: Inflatable boats
- Directive 2013/53/EU: Recreational craft and personal watercraft (excluded from prEN 1914 scope)
- EN ISO 7019: Safety signs and colours
- Rhine Vessel Inspection Regulations (RVIR)
- EN ISO 8665, EN ISO 11592: Marine propulsion, determination of maximum propulsion power
prEN 1914:2026 establishes a harmonized framework for work boats, ship’s boats, and lifeboats used on inland navigation vessels, promoting consistency, efficiency, and above all, safety across European waterways.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 09-Jul-2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
prEN 1914 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats". This standard covers: This document applies to: - ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN; - lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN1) is specified for the area of use; - work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the construction site area and over comparatively short distances. This document does not apply to: - recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU; - firefighting and water rescue boats.
This document applies to: - ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN; - lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN1) is specified for the area of use; - work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the construction site area and over comparatively short distances. This document does not apply to: - recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU; - firefighting and water rescue boats.
prEN 1914 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 47.060 - Inland navigation vessels; 47.080 - Small craft. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
prEN 1914 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 1914:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
prEN 1914 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Plovila za celinske vode - Delovni, pomožni in reševalni čolni
Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats
Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Arbeits-, Bei- und Rettungsboote
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Bateaux-ateliers, canots de service et canots de
sauvetage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 1914
ICS:
47.060 Jezerska in rečna plovila Inland navigation vessels
47.080 Čolni Small craft
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2026
ICS 47.060 Will supersede EN 1914:2016
English Version
Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship's boats and
lifeboats
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Bateaux-ateliers, Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Arbeits-, Bei- und
canots de service et canots de sauvetage Rettungsboote
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 15.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 1914:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Symbols . 6
5 Safety requirements . 7
5.1 Dimensions. 7
5.2 Freeboard . 8
5.3 Boat volume . 8
5.4 Reserve buoyancy A . 8
R
5.5 Stability . 8
5.6 Permissible number of persons . 8
5.7 Drainage device . 9
5.8 Buoyancy units . 9
5.8.1 Hermetically-sealed buoyancy units . 9
5.8.2 Buoyancy units filled with expanded materials . 9
5.9 Non-slip surfaces . 9
5.10 Gunwale . 9
5.11 Performance characteristics. 10
5.11.1 General. 10
5.11.2 Rowing . 10
5.11.3 Additional requirements for boats with motor fitted . 10
5.11.4 Recovery . 10
5.12 Motor rating . 10
5.12.1 Installation . 10
5.12.2 Maximum motor rating . 10
5.12.3 Electric motors and starters . 10
5.13 Towing ring, mooring and heating devices . 11
5.14 Additional requirements for inflatable boats . 11
6 Materials . 11
7 Equipment . 11
7.1 Basic equipment . 11
7.2 Additional equipment for boats with motor fitted . 11
7.3 Additional equipment for inflatable boats . 12
7.4 Instruction for use . 12
8 Testing . 12
8.1 General. 12
8.2 Verification of design data . 12
8.3 Verification of reserve buoyancy . 13
8.4 Verification of stability . 13
8.5 Practical test . 13
8.6 Trial without motor fitted . 13
8.7 Trial with motor fitted . 13
8.7.1 Motor rating . 13
8.7.2 Turning circle . 13
8.7.3 Z-manoeuvre . 13
8.7.4 Stopping test . 13
8.7.5 Reversing . 14
8.8 Strength test . 14
8.8.1 General . 14
8.8.2 Drop test . 14
8.8.3 Towing test . 14
8.9 Recovery test . 14
9 Designation . 14
10 Marking . 14
Annex A (informative) Examples and preferred dimensions for a boat with rigid hull . 16
Bibliography . 18
European foreword
This document (prEN 1914:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 15 “Inland
navigation vessels”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 1914:2016.
a) requirements and references regarding fire protection in 6 Materials changed and updated;
b) Normative references and bibliography updated;
c) Editorial changes.
This document was written up for ship's boats, for inland navigation vessels and maritime construction
company work boats.
This document specifies requirements for ship's boats covered in Article 13.07 of European Standard
laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels (ES-TRIN). The latter is mandatory
for inland navigation vessels in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/1629 and the Rhine Vessel
Inspection Regulations.
1 Scope
This document applies to:
— ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN;
— lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN ) is specified for the area of use;
— work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the
construction site area and over comparatively short distances.
This document does not apply to:
— recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU;
— firefighting and water rescue boats.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 22768-1, General tolerances – Part 1: Tolerances for Linear and Angular Dimensions without Individual
Tolerance Indications (ISO 2768-1)
EN ISO 6185 (all parts), Inflatable Boats (ISO 6185)
EN ISO 7019, Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Registered safety signs (ISO 7010
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
boat
work boat, ship's boat or lifeboat used for transportation, rescue, recovery and work
3.2
work boat
boat for the transportation of persons and working loads and for operational working tasks in
construction site areas
3.3
ship's boat
boat carried on an inland navigation vessel
European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways
3.4
lifeboat
boat for the rescue and recovery of crew and passengers and rescue and recovery of third parties
3.5
Boat volume
V
water displacement to the lowest point at which water can enter the vessel
3.6
permissible number of persons carried
maximum number of persons allowed in the boat
3.7
reserve buoyancy
A
R
buoyancy of the unmanned flooded boat
3.8
deadweight
TF
permissible mass that can be carried by the boat comprising persons, equipment, motor and working
load
3.9
freeboard
F
b
distance between the water surface and the lowest opening or top edge of the shell when loaded to the
deadweight
3.10
residual freeboard
FR
distance between the water surface and the lowest opening or upper edge of the shell when loaded during
the stability test
3.11
rowlock
movable holding device for the oars
3.12
gunwale
upper edge of the side to which the rowlock is attached
4 Symbo
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