Maritime Law Division

Rainer Beerfelde heads the Department of Maritime and Shipping Law.

In the context of the association’s interests, the department addresses relevant resolutions and proposed amendments in the field of water transportation law, informs member schools about current legislative changes at the federal and state levels, and reports on important decisions by the courts of first instance. In addition to sharing information with members of the Association of German Water Sports Schools, this work results in general guidance and recommendations for conduct from the association, including the development of fact sheets.

The department expressly does not deal with specific legal matters of individual members. Rather, the service unit serves as a point of contact for association members, thereby facilitating discussion and providing guidance on general issues related to water transportation law. 

The department’s responsibilities include revising the training materials for the traffic law section (workbooks), assisting the association in correspondence with authorities, providing commentary on current traffic incidents on the water, delivering presentations at association events, and so on, as well as training prospective school principals as part of the VDWS School Management Seminar. The in-depth articles in the association’s regularly published newsletter, the VDWS Magazine, are tailored to the association’s members and provide them with valuable insights.

Members may contact the department in person during the designated office hours (see My VDWS).