Convention regarding the Regime of Navigation on the Danube.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, the Hungarian Republic, the People’s Republic of Romania, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Republic of Czechoslovakia and the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia desirous of providing for free navigation on the Danube in accordance with the interests and sovereign rights of the Danubian States and in order to strengthen the economic and cultural relations of the Danubian States among themselves and with other nations, have resolved to conclude a Convention regarding the regime of navigation on the Danube. In particular, article 1 establishes that Navigation on the Danube shall be free and open for the nationals, vessels of commerce and goods of all States, on a footing of equality in regard to port and navigation charges and conditions for merchant shipping. Article 3 specifies that the Danubian States undertake to maintain their sections of the Danube in a navigable condition for river-going and, on the appropriate sections, for sea-going vessels, to carry out the works necessary for the maintenance and improvement of navigation conditions and not to obstruct or hinder navigation on the navigable channels of the Danube. Article 5 rules that there shall be established a Danube Commission. The functions of the Commission shall be to: a) supervise the implementation of the provisions of this Convention; prepare a general plan of the principal works called for in the interests of navigation on the basis of proposals and projects presented by the Danubian States and the Special River; b) establish a uniform system of standards on the whole navigable portion of the Danube and to lay down the basic provisions governing navigation on the Danube, including those governing the pilot service, with due consideration for the specific conditions obtaining on particular sections; c) unify the regulations governing river inspection; to produce statistics on aspects of navigation on the Danube within the competence of the Commission; d) publish reference works, sailing directions, navigational charts and atlases for purposes of navigation; e) prepare and approve the budget of the Commission and to fix and levy the charges provided for in article 10.
The text consists of 47 articles divided into 5 Chapters as follows: General provisions (I); Administrative provisions (II); Regime of navigation (III); Procedure for defraying the cost of maintenance of navigation (IV); Final provisions (V)