1.An applicant must provide proof of at least four years' professional experience as a member of the deck crew on an inland waterway vessel.
2.To be taken into account, professional experience must be validated by the competent authority of the Member State by being entered in a personal service record. It may have been acquired on any of the Member States' waterways. In the case of waterways part of whose courses are within Community territory, such as the Danube, Elbe and Oder, the professional experience acquired on all sections of those watercourses will be taken into consideration.
3.The minimum duration of the professional experience referred to in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a maximum of three years:
(a)where the applicant has a diploma recognized by the competent authority which confirms specialized training in inland navigation comprising practical navigation work; the reduction may not be greater than the duration of the specialized training; or
(b)where the applicant can provide proof of professional experience acquired on a seagoing vessel as a member of the deck crew; in order to obtain the maximum reduction of three years, the applicant must provide proof of at least four years' experience in maritime navigation.
4.The minimum duration of professional experience provided for in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a maximum of three years where the applicant has passed a practical examination in sailing a vessel; the certificate shall in that case cover only vessels with nautical characteristics similar to those of the vessel which underwent the practical examination.