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.