BargeFlow Port Reporter
Guide

Electronic reporting on the Rhine: what changes on 1 December 2026?

From Tuesday 1 December 2026, mandatory electronic reporting on the Rhine (article 12.01 of the Rhine Police Regulations, RPR) is extended to vessels longer than 86 m with one or more cargo holds. That covers most larger dry cargo vessels. Vessels with propulsion or auxiliary systems running on methanol, gaseous hydrogen or batteries with a combined capacity above 500 kWh are included too. According to the CCNR, this affects about 1,500 vessels.

For tankers, container vessels, vessels carrying ADN cargo and vessels longer than 110 m nothing changes: they have reported electronically since 2018 or 2021. Do you sail a dry cargo vessel of 86 m or shorter, without containers, ADN cargo or alternative propulsion? Then you still do not have to report electronically after 1 December, although you may.

Does it look like it applies to you? Setting it up mostly takes an account and an hour of practice. Here is how.

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Does it apply to you? A quick check

From 1 December 2026 the electronic reporting duty on the Rhine applies to you if you sail on the reporting section (see below) and one of these is true:

  • Your vessel is longer than 86 m and has one or more cargo holds. New.
  • You have propulsion or auxiliary systems on board for methanol, gaseous hydrogen or batteries with a combined capacity above 500 kWh. New.
  • You have an LNG installation on board. Already applied.
  • You carry ADN cargo, sail a tanker, carry containers, your vessel is longer than 110 m, it is a hotel ship or a sea-going ship, or you sail a special transport (art. 1.21 RPR). Already applied.

Exemptions, sections and length

Exemptions

Bunker vessels and bilge-oil vessels (as defined in the ADN) stay exempt. The competent authority may exempt day-trip vessels.

Where does it apply?

On the international Rhine: from Basel (Mittlere Rheinbrücke, km 166.53) to Gorinchem (km 952.50), and from Pannerden (km 867.50) to Krimpen aan de Lek (km 989.20). These are the sections with sign B.11 and the additional panel for the reporting duty.

Mind the length

The rule applies to vessels longer than 86 m. Under the text of the resolution, a vessel of exactly 86.00 m is therefore not included. Some reports, including from the CCNR itself, say “from 86 metres”. If your vessel is around 86 metres, look at the length on your certificate and, when in doubt, ask the BICS helpdesk.

Not sure?

The CCNR has a short questionnaire, with at most seven questions, that tells you exactly whether it applies to your vessel. You can also call the BICS helpdesk (see the sources below).

What do you report?

What goes into your report is set out in article 12.01(2) RPR. Your reporting software puts it in the right format (ES-RIS, part IV); you only have to fill it in correctly. For a dry cargo vessel it comes down to this:

  • Vessel: name, ENI number, vessel type, deadweight, length and beam.
  • Energy: whether you have systems for LNG, methanol, gaseous hydrogen or batteries above 500 kWh. This is new in the report.
  • Cargo: type and quantity. ADN cargo and containers have extra fields.
  • People: the total number of persons on board.
  • Voyage: position and heading, your route with port of departure and destination, the port of loading and the port of discharge.
  • Draught: only if the competent authority asks for it.

When do you report?

Before you enter the reporting sector

In practice, when you set off. You send your report to the traffic centre of the sector you are in at that moment, for example Tiel, Dordrecht, Wijk bij Duurstede or Nijmegen, Duisburg, Oberwesel, Gambsheim or Basel.

Something changes on the way?

Then you send a new report straight away.

Stopped for more than two hours?

Then you report the start and the end of that stop.

At the end of the voyage

You report the end of the voyage as soon as possible.

What counts as one voyage?

A voyage runs from the port of departure to the port of destination. Do you load or discharge on the way, or does the number of persons on board change? Then a new voyage starts. Sailing from Rotterdam to Basel and discharging part of the cargo in Duisburg? Then you report Rotterdam–Duisburg first and Duisburg–Basel after that.

The good news: if you sail straight from Basel to the Netherlands without loading or discharging, you report once. The traffic centres pass your report on to the next sector themselves.

The VHF radio stays (for now)

The electronic report does not fully replace the VHF radio. You still report by VHF with your name and vessel type at locks, at the reporting points with sign B.11, and when you enter or leave the reporting section. You no longer need to call in your draught and cargo, because they are already in your electronic report.

Germany is working on a new reporting system (CEERIS) and then wants to drop part of those VHF reports and B.11 signs. Until that is officially announced, keep calling in as usual.

May the office report for you?

Yes. Your shipping company, charterer or someone else may send the report for you, except your position, heading and draught. Those come from on board. The VHF report is always made by the boatmaster.

How to set it up: BICS in four steps

Most skippers report with BICS, the free reporting software from Rijkswaterstaat.

1. Create a Rijkswaterstaat inland shipping account

You do this on bics.nl, under “Starten met BICS”. The same account also gives you access to Vaarweginformatie and Sluisplanning.

2. Request a BICS reporting ID

Here you choose between two versions. BICS Portal is the online version: it runs in your browser on a laptop, tablet or phone, works on several devices and updates itself. For now it is for owner-operators only, there are no links with ECDIS or other systems yet, and you always need internet. BICS Local is installed on your own computer; it suits shipping companies and links with Inland ECDIS and navigation software.

3. Allow up to 5 working days

That is how long processing your request can take. So do not leave it to the last week of November.

4. Set up your vessel and send a test report

Do it on a voyage where it is not yet required. Then on 1 December you know exactly which buttons you need.

Other reporting software works too

The CCNR mentions RiverGuide, among others. It works if you carry one type of cargo that is not ADN cargo, but it is not suitable for container vessels or convoys. The CCNR also mentions Autena ContainerPlanner for container shipping. Several Inland ECDIS packages have BICS built in. Do check that your package suits your vessel and the sections you sail.

The deadline

The CCNR and Rijkswaterstaat advise setting it up as soon as possible. Many accounts have to be created at the same time, and this way you avoid waiting just before the deadline.

13 June 2024

The CCNR adopts the amendment of art. 12.01 RPR (Resolution 2024-I-12).

30 November 2026

By this day your reporting software and account should be ready, according to the CCNR.

1 December 2026

The reporting duty applies to the new groups of vessels.

Practical tips from one skipper to another

  • Request your account now. Five working days of processing plus a week of practice still fits easily before 1 December.
  • Practise on an ordinary voyage. You may always report electronically, even when you do not have to yet. Many skippers under 86 m already do, for example for Flanders.
  • Pick your ports and terminals from the list instead of typing your own description. A wrong location code makes a report less useful.
  • Keep BICS Local up to date. Install updates straight away, or traffic centres may not be able to process your report properly. BICS Portal updates itself.
  • Send a new report when something changes, for example when you load extra cargo, take on an extra person or stop for more than two hours.
  • Sailing with several boatmasters or relief crews? Agree who reports, and keep in mind that BICS Portal is still for owner-operators only.
  • Check that your AIS data is right. The traffic centre also sees you on AIS. The free MMSI check shows whether your vessel is on AIS properly.
  • In Flanders all commercial vessels have had to report electronically since December 2022. The Netherlands and France each have their own rules. This guide only covers the Rhine under the RPR.

And BargeFlow Port Reporter?

To be clear: BargeFlow Port Reporter does not send your electronic reports. They stay in BICS or your own reporting software.

BargeFlow Port Reporter follows your vessels via AIS and automatically records which ports they called at and how long they stayed. You need no hardware on board, just the MMSI number. Handy for the office, which then has to phone less. You can try it free for 60 days; you do enter your payment details when you sign up.

Frequently asked questions about electronic reporting

My vessel is 86 metres. Do I have to report?

The rule applies to vessels longer than 86 m. A vessel of exactly 86.00 m is therefore not included. If yours is even slightly longer and has a cargo hold, it is. Not sure which length counts? Look at your certificate, fill in the CCNR questionnaire or call the BICS helpdesk.

I only sail on the Waal as far as Gorinchem. Does it apply to me?

Yes, if your vessel falls under it. The reporting section runs from Basel to Gorinchem (km 952.50) and from Pannerden to Krimpen aan de Lek. Other waterways may have other rules.

Do I no longer have to call in on the VHF?

You still report with your name and vessel type at locks, at the B.11 reporting points and when you enter or leave the reporting section. Draught and cargo are already in your electronic report, so you no longer need to call those in.

Do I have to report again in every sector?

No. You report at the start and at the end of your voyage, and the traffic centres pass your report on to the next sector. Only when something changes, or when you stop for more than two hours, do you send a new report.

What does electronic reporting cost?

BICS is free. According to the CCNR, all you need besides that is an ordinary computer or phone with internet. Other reporting software or ECDIS links may cost money.

I have a hybrid vessel with a small battery bank. Does it apply to me?

According to the CCNR, batteries only count if their total capacity is above 500 kWh. Methanol, gaseous hydrogen and LNG always count. Not sure about your installation or another fuel? Ask the helpdesk or the CCNR.

Sources and help

Checked on 18 October 2026. This guide is an explanation, not legal advice; the official RPR text applies.

BICS helpdesk: helpdesk@bics.nl, +31 (0)88 202 26 00 (Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00). Questions about Germany: GDWS@wsv.bund.de.

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BargeFlow Port Reporter does not send your electronic reports, but it does show where your vessels are and which ports they called at, straight from AIS. Try it free for 60 days; you enter your payment details when you sign up.

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