The Joint Nautical Management Treaty (JNM Treaty)

Treaty on Joint Nautical Management (Middelburg 21 December 2005) 


The Joint Nautical Management Treaty (JNM Treaty) is the culmination of a nautical collaboration between the Netherlands and Belgium/Flanders that started in 1839. It is not only an end point, but just as much the starting point of a further strengthening of the collaboration. The challenge is to further improve the level of health, safety, and handling speed, despite the increase in the scale of maritime shipping. 

Formal agreements were laid down in the Treaty about:

- the objectives of Joint Nautical Management
- the scope of application
- the tasks and assignments of the Permanent Committee
- the tasks and assignments of the Joint Nautical Authority
- the system of nautical chain management
- amendments to the Scheldt Regulations

The implementation of the Treaty focuses on the following priority areas: 
- the working out of the practical details of nautical chain management
- the drawing up of a preventative and curative safety plan for the Scheldt Area
- the definition of the exact scope of application of the Treaty
- the official structure of the Joint Nautical Authority