This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine

CCNR

Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
Keywords: european river commissions | central commission for navigation on the rhine | ccnr | rhine | central commission of the rhine |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



Rhine Commission flag image by Pascal Vagnat, 28 June 2015


See also:

The Flag

The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) in Strasbourg has a new flag. This flag is based on the new visual identity created for the bicentenary of the CCNR. "This is the result of joint consideration of the matter by the Heads of the Delegations of the CCNR’s five Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland) under the leadership of its Secretariat. Its new visual identity reflects the tasks of this unique and discreet organisation which holds the record as the world’s oldest international organisation still in existence."
"The new visual identity reflects the current dynamic of the organisation. Its central pictogram, an anchor, is a reference to its prime task of ensuring “the freedom of navigation on the Rhine” which its five Member States, symbolised by the stars following the shape of the anchor, undertook to uphold by signing the final Act of the Congress of Vienna in 1815."
"This new identity is the work of the Strasbourg communication agency Press Agrum."
This visual identity exists also as a flag, that replaces the old flag (light blue with four dark blue stripes and six yellow stars). It looks a bit more like the European flag.
This flag flies for several months now on the front of the Rhine Palace, Republic Square, in Strasbourg, where the CCNR is.
Sources: http://www.ccr-zkr.org/index.php
http://www.strasbourg.eu/…/nouvelle-identite-visuelle-pour-… ; CCNR Identité Visuelle - Agence Press-Agrum
Image of flag.
Pascal Vagnat, 28 June 2015


Previous Flag

Rhine Commission flag image by Pete Loeser, 29 June 2015

The flag of the Central Commission of the Rhine, as shown in Album des Pavillons [pay00], is light blue with in upper half six five-pointed yellow stars arranged in an hexagonal pattern, and in lower half four dark blue stripes and a yellow anchor over those stripes.
Željko Heimer, 09 December 2003

Why did the old flag have six stars? United States or United Kingdom perhaps? The United States was temporarily a member immediately after World War II, while Germany was under Allied occupation. Then the current revised convention was signed in Strasbourg by the five members of the commission and the United Kingdom in 1963. I attach the older flag (c1920?) with its six stars, but I'm unsure of the details? Could you or somebody enlighten me?
Pete Loeser, 29 June 2015

UK ! The United Kingdom was a member from 1919 to 1993. It is now a member- observer. Italy was also a member from 1919 to the Second World war.
I think the flag you show is correct. I don't have much about details, but Jos Poels wrote in the past an article about this flag in the magazine of the Dutch vexillological association. Cannot remember which issue.
Pascal Vagnat, 29 June 2015

So does this mean the 6-star version was used between 1919-1993, but continued to be used until 2015 when this new 5-star version was approved? Are we missing a version here?
Pete Loeser, 29 June 2015


Rhine River Police

Gerhard Dumke: "Rhein- und Donau-Flaggen", Deutsches Schiffahrtsarchive 2, 1978, pp. 195-206 (available at http://ww2.dsm.museum/DSA/DSA02_1978_195206_Dumke.pdf.

Rhine Commission flag image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017

Dumke shows a slightly different flag from that shown at Rhine Customs Administration 1805-1806 (France and Germany) for the 1805 "Rhein-Oktroi", differing only in ratio at ca. 6:7 (while all other his drawings in the article are 2:3 flags).

He also provides legal source for those flags with inscription RHENUS, and then he shows various subsequent Rhine River Police flags as used in Germany, Netherlands, France and Switzerland:

Germany

Rhine Commission flag image by M. Schmöger, 15 Dec 2002

Germany 1949-51

Rhine Commission flag image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017
White with thin black saltire and letter P at the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017

Netherlands

Rhine River Police flag image by M. Schmöger, 15 Dec 2002

France

Rhine River Police flag image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017

Switzerland

Rhine River Police flag image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017

Finally, Dumke shows the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine flag as used prior to 1965/66 (when the "old" light blue flag with dark blue stripes in the base and ring of stars was introduced). It is a simple white flag with red inscriptions "CCR".

Rhine River Police flag image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017

The "new" design was adopted on 14 October 1965 (Protokol 35) and first used on 24 October 1966 on the occasion of 150th anniversary of the Commission. As we know, this one was replaced with a new "current dynamic" flag in 2015 in connection with the organizations bicentenary.
Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017