Safety and certification
To ensure that sailing with guests is as safe as possible, there are rules and periodic inspections for traditional sailing ships that sail with passengers, such as the Catharina van Mijdrecht. For example, we must comply with all European legal safety requirements.
Safety and certification
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILenT) of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is the supervisor and ultimately responsible body for compliance with these regulations in the Netherlands. Their over 1,300 employees work together on safety, trust and sustainability in transport, infrastructure, the environment and housing. In addition to inland shipping, they also do this for aircraft and seagoing vessels.
Various parts of the Catharina van Mijdrecht are periodically inspected on behalf of the ILenT. For example, there are separate inspections of the construction (hull, ironwork), rigging (mast, boom, ropes), life-saving equipment (rafts, life jackets), installations (gas, electricity), navigation and communication equipment, etc. These inspections are carried out by ILenT certified inspection bodies.
As soon as an inspection has been successfully carried out, we receive a certificate with which we can demonstrate that a specific part of the Catharina van Mijdrecht has been approved for a certain period of time. Follow the link for the current list of fully certified ships: https://www.ilent.nl/documenten/transport/passagiersvaart/historische-zeilende-passagiersschepen/publicaties/gecertificeerde-zeilende-passagiersschepen-binnenwateren
Platform Safety in Chartering
In addition to the existing legal organisations, the Platform Veiligheid Chartervaart (Safety in Chartering) was established in 2018. This is a joint consultation body of Inspection Agencies, booking organisations, the Enkhuizer Maritime School and the skippers of sailing passenger shipping, united in the BBZ. The participants have agreed to work together in the platform and to structurally record and share knowledge about safety.
Training and navigation license
The skipper has a Large Vessel Licence for professional navigation, which he received after completing training at the Maritime School. In addition, the crew complies with the rules laid down in the Inland Navigation Act. This means that we meet the same regular training requirements as inland shipping and maritime shipping.
Safety on board
On board the Catharina van Mijdrecht, everything is about safety. The crew has received thorough training at the Maritime School, the ship has a high, child-friendly railing, and there are sufficient life jackets and safety equipment for all guests on board. In addition to the periodic inspections commissioned by the ILenT, all round timbers (including mast and boom) are checked annually by our mast maker and timber expert, Jeroen van Wijngaarden.
