Mannheimer Akte

The Mannheimer Akte (Mannheim Act) (officially : Revised Rhine Navigation Act of 17 October 1868) is an international agreement that regulates vessel traffic on the Rhine. The principles of the Treaty are:-

• Free shipping
• Equal treatment of sailors and fleet
• Exemption from shipping charges
• Simplified customs clearance
• Obligation to maintain the Rhine's banks
• Standardization of ship safety and ship traffic regulations
• A single jurisdiction for shipping matters and the establishment of the Rhine waterway courts
• Establishing a commission to monitor these principles

History

• 1648: Free shipping on the Rhine was first settled, in the Peace of Westphalia, but could not prevail in practice.
• 1815: Called the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna, the freedom of navigation of international waters of the Rhine and the establishment of a commission.
• 1816: This Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine first met in Mainz, Germany.
• 31 March 1831: The Mainzer Akte was agreed to.
• 1861: The Commission was transferred to Mannheim.
• 17 October 1868: The Convention of Mannheim was signed by Baden, Bavaria, France, Hesse, the Netherlands and Prussia, valid in its principles today.
• 1919: It was changed by the Treaty of Versailles Article 355 of the Convention of Mannheim.
• 1920: The headquarters of the Commission was moved to Strasbourg.
• 1963: An agreement was confirmed with the principles of the Mannheim Act (enacted in 1967) and Switzerland was a signatory.