RYA European Waterways Regulations (the CEVNI Rules explained)

Publisher: RYA, 2004 £ 6.85 .

The CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieur) Rules are a United Nations initiative to provide a common basis for navigation rules on all the interconnected European Waterways.  They have been adopted by individual states with varying levels of thoroughness and enthusiasm.  (The British have essentially ignored them.)

Short of buying the UN’s own 191 page long book of the rules, this is the most comprehensive guide to them yet published in English.  Its disadvantage is that the essential rules do not always stand out from the mass of minor ones.  The effect is rather like a learner driver being given a copy of the Road Traffic Acts instead of a copy of the Highway Code.

The rules are complicated by craft being divided into ‘Normal Vessels’ and ‘Small Craft’ and there is a general presumption that small craft shall keep out of the way of normal vessels, effectively corresponding to rule 9(b) of the International Collision Regulations.   The discussion of the consequences of this rule could be better, especially where an example is given which could be misinterpreted as suggesting that small craft do not need heed the ‘Blue Boarding’ rule.

Given that the book  is so comprehensive, it is perhaps surprising that the rules have not been numbered,  preferably in the style of the RYA’s excellent annotated book on the Collision Regulations.

 That apart, the treatment is generally clear and considered. It is well illustrated with both colour drawings and photographs, contains sample test questions on the CEVNI rules, and is reasonably priced. - RE.

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