The German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) has successfully campaigned in favour of the interests of motor boaters on the Danube. Following a tip-off from the Bavarian Motor Yacht Association (BMYV), the DMYV intervened with the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) against far-reaching mooring bans that significantly restricted motorised recreational boating on the Danube. The background to this was the transfer of the Danube Navigation Police Regulations to the Inland Waterways Regulations (BinSchStrO), which came into force on 1 September 2024. This amendment to the ordinance extended section 7.02 no. 1 letter 1 of the BinSchStrO to the Danube, which regulates the circumstances under which a ban on mooring watercraft applies. As a result, a general mooring ban applied on certain designated water ski routes on the Danube.
Extensive restrictions for motorboat enthusiasts
The effects of the change to the ordinance were serious for motor boating on the Danube. On a total of around 72 kilometres - spread over several stretches - the stopping of pleasure craft was prohibited. This made motorised recreational boating on these stretches almost impossible in some cases. In its letter to the Federal Ministry of Transport, the DMYV questioned whether these far-reaching mooring bans on the Danube were actually intended. At the same time, the association called for a swift correction to the ordinance and adapted handling by the water police in order to avoid unnecessarily restricting motorised boating on the Danube.
Ministry responds with practical solution
The Federal Ministry of Transport responded positively to the DMYV's advice and took immediate action. The responsible Waterways and Shipping Office Danube-MDK and the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping were instructed to coordinate a practical interpretation of the regulations with the waterway police. In future, mooring offences on the affected stretches will only be penalised if they actually endanger or obstruct navigation. This pragmatic solution will allow motorboat enthusiasts to once again use the Danube to its full extent as long as they do not interfere with shipping traffic.
Long-term prospects for motorboat athletes
In addition to the short-term solution, the BMV has also announced long-term measures. The experiences of the current season are to be evaluated in order to possibly create a specific exemption regulation in the regional chapter of the Danube - analogous to the existing regulations for the Main and Main-Danube Canal. This would allow exceptions to the general mooring ban to be expressly authorised in future. This announcement gives motorboat enthusiasts on the Danube a positive outlook for the coming years and shows that their interests are being taken into account in the drafting of the inland navigation regulations.
Torsten Moench
Editor in Chief BOOTE
