# 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, hence the range of dimensions are also referred to as CEMT Class I–VII.
The size for each waterway is limited by the dimensions of the structures including the locks and boat lifts on the route.

## Classification

Class I corresponds to the historical Freycinet gauge decreed in France during 1879. The larger river classification sizes are focused on the carriage of intermodal containers in convoys of barges propelled by a push-tug. Most of the canals of the United Kingdom have smaller locks and would fall below the dimensions in the European classification system. In 2004, the standards were extended with four smaller sizes RA–RD covering recreational craft, which had originally been developed and proposed via PIANC. The proposal to add the recreational sizes was adopted by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe resolution 52. In 2015 an updated version was published.
| Type of inland waterways | Classes of navigable waterways | Motor vessels and barges | Motor vessels and barges | Motor vessels and barges | Motor vessels and barges | Motor vessels and barges | Pushed convoys | Pushed convoys | Pushed convoys | Pushed convoys | Minimum height under bridges (m) |
| Type of inland waterways | Classes of navigable waterways | Designation | Length (m) | Breadth (m) | Draught (m) | Tonnage (t) | Length (m) | Breadth (m) | Draught (m) | Tonnage (t) | Minimum height under bridges (m) |
| For recreational navigation | RA | Open boat | 5.5 | 2.00 | 0.50 | | | | | | 2.00 |
| For recreational navigation | RB | Cabin cruiser | 9.5 | 3.00 | 1.00 | | | | | | 3.25 |
| For recreational navigation | RC | Motor yacht | 15.0 | 4.00 | 1.50 | | | | | | 4.00 |
| For recreational navigation | RD | Sailing boat | 15.0 | 4.00 | 2.10 | | | | | | 30.00 |
| Of regional importance to east of Elbe | I | Gross Finnow | 41 | 4.7 | 1.40 | 180 | | | | | 3.0 |
| Of regional importance to east of Elbe | II | BM–500 | 57 | 7.5–9.0 | 1.60 | 500–630 | | | | | 3.0 |
| Of regional importance to east of Elbe | III | | 67–70 | 8.2–9.0 | 1.60–2.00 | 470–700 | 118–132 | 8.2–9.0 | 1.6–2.0 | 1,000–1,200 | 4.0 |
| Of regional importance to west of Elbe | I | Barge | 38.5 | 5.05 | 1.80–2.20 | 250–400 | | | | | 4.0 |
| Of regional importance to west of Elbe | II | Kampine-Barge | 50.0–55.0 | 6.6 | 2.50 | 400–650 | | | | | 4.0–5.0 |
| Of regional importance to west of Elbe | III | Gustav Koenigs [de] | 67.0–80.0 | 8.2 | 2.50 | 650–1,000 | | | | | 4.0–5.0 |
| Of international importance | IV | Johann Welker [de] | 80.0–85.0 | 9.5 | 2.50 | 1,000–1,500 | 85 | 9.5 | 2.5–2.8 | 1,250–1,450 | 5.25 or 7.00 |
| Of international importance | Va | Large Rhine class [de] | | | | | 95–110 | 11.4 | 2.5–4.5 | 1,600–3,000 | 5.25 or 7.00 or 9.10 |
| Of international importance | Vb | 1×2 convoy | | | | | 172–185 | 11.4 | 2.5–4.5 | 3,200–6,000 | 5.25 or 7.00 or 9.10 |
| Of international importance | VIa | 2×1 convoy | | | | | 95–110 | 22.8 | 2.5–4.5 | 3,200–6,000 | 7.00 or 9.10 |
| Of international importance | VIb | 2×2 convoy | 140.0 | 15.0 | 3.90 | | 185–195 | 22.8 | 2.5–4.5 | 6,400–12,000 | 7.00 or 9.10 |
| Of international importance | VIc | 2×3 convoy | | | | | 270–280 | 22.8 | 2.5–4.0 | 9,600–18,000 | 9.10 |
| Of international importance | VIc | 3×2 convoy | | | | | 195–200 | 33.0–34.2 | 2.5–4.5 | 9,600–18,000 | 9.10 |
| Of international importance | VII | 3×3 convoy | | | | | 285 | 33.0–34.2 | 2.5–4.5 | 14,500–27,000 | 9.10 |