Main tasks
Representatation
International independent platform
International independent platform
Harmonisation and unification of lawDamage prevention programs
International Association for the representation of the mutual interests of the inland shipping and the insurance and for keeping the register of inland vessels in Europe.
IVR is the unique international platform on which national organisations of inland navigation, insurance industry and surveyors as well as individual companies and persons from these and related areas such as brokers, lawyers, manufacturers, yards etc. are represented. IVR has been founded initially in 1877 by insurance companies and re-established in 1947 with representatives of inland navigation, surveyors and related industries.
IVR’s main objective is the observation and representation of the common interests of the involved industries on the network of the major European inland waterways. Inland navigation plays an important role within the European transport and mobility system. IVR is coping with all topics within the common sphere of interests of its members. It is characterised by its neutrality and independence.
Independent and international platform
Variety of members and industries
Representation
As an international organisation IVR’s responsibility and goal is to promote the general interests and contacts between representatives of shipping, insurance, ship’s survey and related sectors.
The association is managed by an international board consisting of one representative from each sector of every member state of the IVR. The daily management is in the hands of the secretariat, based in Rotterdam. To realise the various objectives of the association a number of international committees and working groups has been established. The permanent international committees are the Legal Committee and the Loss Prevention Committee.
1877
IVR was founded in Frankfurt am Main by insurance companies from Germany and Switzerland under the name “Rheinschiffsregisterverband”. Its intention was to inspect – in addition to the statutory inspection – all insurable inland navigation vessels in respect of their fitness and to enter the vessels that were found fit into a register – the first IVR-Register published in 1879
1947
IVR was re-established in Rotterdam under the name “International Association the Rhine Ships Register” (IVR), in which – apart from the original founders, the insurance companies – also the inland shipping organisations from all Rhine riparian States and Belgium were united. In order to be able to exert government influences on IVR, the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR)in Strasbourg took over the patronage.
1992
1992 IVR starts the dialogue with the representatives of shipping, insurance and authorities in Central and Eastern Europe to promote the harmonization of inland navigation and liability law.
2000
Replacement of the IVR previous IVR Certificate of Fitness by new loss prevention tools such as the Damage Prevention Inspection, Steering Gear Inspection and the Engine Registration System.
2001
After an amendment of the articles of association its official name is IVR. In the same year IVR opened its doors to participants from all European countries, in particular from the Danubian countries, to promote the mutual rapprochement and legal unification of the inland regulations.
2004
Initiated by IVR in cooperation with insurers and surveyors the foundation “NBKB”, which stands for Dutch inland ship certification office was founded. NBKB since 2014 is officially mandated by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to inspect and officially certify dry cargo vessels on behalf of the Dutch authorities.
2014
The database of ships is updated and access made available via an online version called “the IVR Ships Information System“. The online access offers users modern technical solutions with permanently updated information of the European inland navigation vessels. The introduction of additional modules provide access to data of owners and operators, hull and engine etc.
Quality Assurance
To guarantee its own quality standard, the IVR is certified on the basis of ISO 9001 Fields of application IVR certificate:
Harmonisation and unification of lawDamage prevention programs
Forum
