Classification of European Inland Waterways

The Classification of European Inland Waterways is a set of standards for interoperability of large navigable waterways forming part of the Trans-European Inland Waterway network within Continental Europe and Russia. It was created by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT; French: Conférence européenne des ministres des Transports, CEMT) in 1992.

This inland waterway classes agreed on by the commission are referred to as CEMT Class I–VII. These classes refer to the dimensions of ships that should be able to use a canal. For their height, the classification determines the minimum air draft of bridges on the waterway. The dimensions of structures like bridges, locks and boat lifts relate very directly to the size of vessels. However, for the canals themselves, this relation depends on local circumstances.

The need to standardize the size of inland waterways is related to the later stages of industrialization. The development of the British canal system started in the mid-18th century. It led to canals and locks of many different sizes. This became a problem when businessmen wanted to use the canals for long distance transport. On the other hand, there was some kind of standardization. The usual beam of boats fit for canals and rivers was 14 feet (4.27 metres). On most canals, it was 7 feet (2.13 metres). Just before World War I, a government commission advised to upgrade and standardize the four principal waterways known as 'the cross'. It probably thought of 100 ton barges.

In France, the Freycinet program was approved in 1879. It provided for:

It led to a big increase in inland navigation. The 1879 law that established the Freycinet gauge, which shows similarities with how the CEMT worked in the 1950s. The law established that there were 30 main waterways (lignes principales) in France. These had to be 2 m deep. Locks had to be 38.50 m long and 5.20 m wide. Air draft below bridges had to be at least 3.70 m. The law would be executed as means became available.

In Germany several types of barges developed based on the main waterways. The older types were based on the rivers. Near the Rhine there were e.g. the Mainschiff and Moselschiff. In the east, there were types like the Finow-Masskahn and the Breslauer Masskahn. Newer types could be found on the canals in the west of Germany. Here, the 'French' Peniche and the 'Belgian' Kempenaar appeared. The most important types the 600-770t type based on the Dortmund–Ems Canal and the 1350t type based on the Rhine–Herne Canal. Together, these canals connected north and central Germany to the Rhine.

In the Netherlands the Zuid-Willemsvaart was the first very long canal. It was completed in 1826 and was 18 m wide and 2.10 m deep, allowing a draft of 1.88 m. The locks were at least 50 m long and 7 m wide. After becoming independent, Belgium built the Campine Canal which connected to the Zuid-Willemsvaart and formed the connection between the Scheldt and the Meuse. This canal and most of its branches also got locks with 7 m wide gates and a useful length of between 50 and 56 m. The canal itself was also 2.10 m deep. The Campine Barge (Kempenaar) was based on the dimnensions of these canals. The Albert Canal that opened in 1939 was much bigger.

In 1953, the Council of ministers drew up a list of twelve inland waterway projects that were of European interest. These projects should be studied and be standardized. In October 1954, the council then called for standardization of these canals based on the 1,350t Rhine–Herne Canal barge.