prEN 1914

• Abstract:

  This document applies to:; - ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN;; - lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN1) is specified for the area of use;; - work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the construction site area and over comparatively short distances.; This document does not apply to:; - recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU;; - firefighting and water rescue boats.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 26-Sep-2027
• ICS: 47.060 - Inland navigation vessels
• ICS: 47.080 - Small craft
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
• Current Stage: 4060 - Closure of enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 24-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 06-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 24-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 1914:2026 - Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats

• Revises: EN 1914:2016 - Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats
• Effective Date: 09-Jul-2025

prEN 1914 is a draft CEN European Standard for inland navigation vessels - work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats. It sets requirements for design, safety, materials, equipment, testing, designation and marking for boats used on inland waterways. The document is written for people who need to judge whether a boat is suitable for these inland navigation uses, including designers, manufacturers, operators and buyers.

What does prEN 1914 specify?

prEN 1914 specifies requirements for three boat types: ship’s boats carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN, lifeboats when no special life-saving equipment is specified for the area of use, and work boats for limited persons or smaller working loads in construction site areas over comparatively short distances.

prEN 1914 does not apply to recreational craft under Directive 2013/53/EU or to firefighting and water rescue boats.

The document is organised into Scope, Normative references, Terms and definitions, Symbols, Safety requirements, Materials, Equipment, Testing, Designation, Marking and Annex A. Annex A gives examples and preferred dimensions for rigid-hull boats.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Examples and preferred dimensions for a boat with rigid hull

What are the key requirements of prEN 1914?

prEN 1914 focuses on the boat’s geometry, buoyancy, stability, loading capacity, equipment and proof tests. In practice, this means the boat has to be designed, built and checked as a complete working unit, not just as a hull.

• Dimensions and deadweight, Clause 5.1 - The main dimensions have to meet the ratio checks in the clause and the boat has to follow the dimensional layout in Figure 1. For the reader, this means the boat size is not free-choice; length, breadth, height and carrying capacity are linked.
• Freeboard and volume, Clauses 5.2 and 5.3 - A fully equipped boat loaded to deadweight needs at least 0.25 m freeboard, and the boat volume must meet the stated minimum or the L × B × H check. This matters because the boat must still keep usable side height and internal volume when loaded.
• Reserve buoyancy and stability, Clauses 5.4 and 5.5 - Buoyancy has to be provided by buoyancy units, distributed evenly, and the flooded unmanned boat must satisfy the reserve buoyancy condition; a loaded boat also has to retain at least 0.1 m residual freeboard in the stability test. This is the core floatation and capsize-resistance check.
• Persons carried, Clause 5.6 - The permissible number of persons depends on boat volume, deadweight and seat count, with at least three seats and minimum allowances per person. In practice, the boat designer must match seating, load and space so the craft remains safe to operate.
• Construction and materials, Clauses 5.7 to 5.10 and Clause 6 - The boat needs a secure drainage device, suitable buoyancy-unit construction, non-slip surfaces, lifelines where the gunwale cannot be gripped or the empty freeboard is too high, and materials resistant to sea water, mineral oil, UV light and temperatures from -20 °C to +70 °C. For buyers, this is the durability and crew-safety part of the standard.
• Equipment and instructions, Clause 7 - Basic equipment includes rowlocks, oars, towing ring, lifting attachment holes, bailer and buoyant painter; motorised and inflatable boats need extra equipment, and instructions for use must cover stowage, readiness, operation, maintenance and regular tests.
• Testing, Clause 8 - Verification uses visual examination, measurement, calculation and practical trials, including stability, turning, stopping, reversing, drop, towing and recovery tests. This tells the manufacturer what evidence is needed before claiming conformance.
• Motor and marking, Clauses 5.12 and 10 - Motor rating is limited, voltages above 48 V are not allowed for electric motors and starters, and the boat must carry retro-reflecting strips, a lifejacket warning sign and a manufacturer’s plate with the required data.

What terms does prEN 1914 define?

prEN 1914 defines the terms used to judge size, loading and safety.

• Boat - A work boat, ship’s boat or lifeboat used for transportation, rescue, recovery and work.
• Work boat - A boat for transporting persons and working loads and for operational tasks in construction site areas.
• Ship’s boat - A boat carried on an inland navigation vessel.
• Lifeboat - A boat for rescuing and recovering crew, passengers and third parties.
• Boat volume - The water displacement to the lowest point at which water can enter the vessel.
• Reserve buoyancy, A - The buoyancy of the unmanned flooded boat.
• Deadweight, TF - The permissible mass carried by the boat, including persons, equipment, motor and working load.
• Freeboard, Fb - The distance between the water surface and the lowest opening or top edge of the shell when loaded to deadweight.

Who uses prEN 1914?

prEN 1914 is used by designers, builders, test houses, inspectors and buyers of inland navigation boats. It is especially relevant to inland navigation vessel operators, construction-site work-boat users and manufacturers of ship’s boats and lifeboats, because it connects design choices to testable safety criteria.

What changed in prEN 1914 from the previous edition?

prEN 1914 will supersede EN 1914:2016. The foreword states that the significant technical changes are updated fire-protection-related requirements and references in Clause 6, updated normative references and bibliography, and editorial changes.

Which standards are used with prEN 1914?

prEN 1914 references EN 22768-1 for general tolerances on linear and angular dimensions, EN ISO 6185 for inflatable boats, and EN ISO 7019 for registered safety signs used for the lifejacket warning sign. ES-TRIN is also part of the context for ship’s boats carried on inland navigation vessels.

What does the prEN 1914 document contain?

prEN 1914 contains a symbol table, requirement clauses, test methods, a designation example and a marking specification. Figure 1 defines the main dimensions, Table 1 defines symbols such as A, Fb, TF and V, and Table 2 lists the information required on the manufacturer’s plate. Annex A gives example rigid-hull boat forms and preferred dimensions, while Clause 8 describes the measurement, calculation and practical test set-ups used for design checking, testing and verification.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Plovila za celinske vode - Delovni, pomožni in reševalni čolni
Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship’s boats and lifeboats
Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Arbeits-, Bei- und Rettungsboote
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Bateaux-ateliers, canots de service et canots de
sauvetage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 1914
ICS:
47.060 Jezerska in rečna plovila Inland navigation vessels
47.080 Čolni Small craft
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2026
ICS 47.060 Will supersede EN 1914:2016
English Version
Inland navigation vessels - Work boats, ship's boats and
lifeboats
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Bateaux-ateliers, Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Arbeits-, Bei- und
canots de service et canots de sauvetage Rettungsboote
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 15.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 1914:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Symbols . 6
5 Safety requirements . 7
5.1 Dimensions. 7
5.2 Freeboard . 8
5.3 Boat volume . 8
5.4 Reserve buoyancy A . 8
R
5.5 Stability . 8
5.6 Permissible number of persons . 8
5.7 Drainage device . 9
5.8 Buoyancy units . 9
5.8.1 Hermetically-sealed buoyancy units . 9
5.8.2 Buoyancy units filled with expanded materials . 9
5.9 Non-slip surfaces . 9
5.10 Gunwale . 9
5.11 Performance characteristics. 10
5.11.1 General. 10
5.11.2 Rowing . 10
5.11.3 Additional requirements for boats with motor fitted . 10
5.11.4 Recovery . 10
5.12 Motor rating . 10
5.12.1 Installation . 10
5.12.2 Maximum motor rating . 10
5.12.3 Electric motors and starters . 10
5.13 Towing ring, mooring and heating devices . 11
5.14 Additional requirements for inflatable boats . 11
6 Materials . 11
7 Equipment . 11
7.1 Basic equipment . 11
7.2 Additional equipment for boats with motor fitted . 11
7.3 Additional equipment for inflatable boats . 12
7.4 Instruction for use . 12
8 Testing . 12
8.1 General. 12
8.2 Verification of design data . 12
8.3 Verification of reserve buoyancy . 13
8.4 Verification of stability . 13
8.5 Practical test . 13
8.6 Trial without motor fitted . 13
8.7 Trial with motor fitted . 13
8.7.1 Motor rating . 13
8.7.2 Turning circle . 13
8.7.3 Z-manoeuvre . 13
8.7.4 Stopping test . 13
8.7.5 Reversing . 14
8.8 Strength test . 14
8.8.1 General . 14
8.8.2 Drop test . 14
8.8.3 Towing test . 14
8.9 Recovery test . 14
9 Designation . 14
10 Marking . 14
Annex A (informative) Examples and preferred dimensions for a boat with rigid hull . 16
Bibliography . 18

European foreword
This document (prEN 1914:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 15 “Inland
navigation vessels”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 1914:2016.
a) requirements and references regarding fire protection in 6 Materials changed and updated;
b) Normative references and bibliography updated;
c) Editorial changes.
This document was written up for ship's boats, for inland navigation vessels and maritime construction
company work boats.
This document specifies requirements for ship's boats covered in Article 13.07 of European Standard
laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation vessels (ES-TRIN). The latter is mandatory
for inland navigation vessels in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/1629 and the Rhine Vessel
Inspection Regulations.
1 Scope
This document applies to:
— ship's boats that can be carried on inland navigation vessels according to ES-TRIN;
— lifeboats if no special life-saving equipment (e.g. ADN ) is specified for the area of use;
— work boats for the transport of a limited number of persons or smaller working loads in the
construction site area and over comparatively short distances.
This document does not apply to:
— recreational craft according to Directive 2013/53/EU;
— firefighting and water rescue boats.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 22768-1, General tolerances – Part 1: Tolerances for Linear and Angular Dimensions without Individual
Tolerance Indications (ISO 2768-1)
EN ISO 6185 (all parts), Inflatable Boats (ISO 6185)
EN ISO 7019, Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Registered safety signs (ISO 7010
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
boat
work boat, ship's boat or lifeboat used for transportation, rescue, recovery and work
3.2
work boat
boat for the transportation of persons and working loads and for operational working tasks in
construction site areas
3.3
ship's boat
boat carried on an inland navigation vessel

European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways
3.4
lifeboat
boat for the rescue and recovery of crew and passengers and rescue and recovery of third parties
3.5
Boat volume
V
water displacement to the lowest point at which water can enter the vessel
3.6
permissible number of persons carried
maximum number of persons allowed in the boat
3.7
reserve buoyancy
A
R
buoyancy of the unmanned flooded boat
3.8
deadweight
TF
permissible mass that can be carried by the boat comprising persons, equipment, motor and working
load
3.9
freeboard
F
b
distance between the water surface and the lowest opening or top edge of the shell when loaded to the
deadweight
3.10
residual freeboard
FR
distance between the water surface and the lowest opening or upper edge of the shell when loaded during
the stability test
3.11
rowlock
movable holding device for the oars
3.12
gunwale
upper edge of the side to which the rowlock is attached
4 Symbo
...