Did you know that electronic reporting via BICS has been mandatory since 2021 for all inland vessels over 110 metres? And that from December 2026, Germany will also require it for vessels over 85 metres?
Administrative obligations on board are increasing. At the same time, more and more skippers and fleet operators want to contribute to cleaner and safer transport on the water through Green Award, and benefit from port fee reductions in the process. In both cases: it takes time, and you would rather not do it manually.
What does electronic reporting involve?
Electronic reporting – via the BICS system (Inland Shipping Information and Communication System) – means digitally submitting your voyage and cargo data to the waterway authority before departure. This includes your route, destination, crew, cargo and draught. Any changes during the voyage require an update.
This information is needed for traffic management on the waterway and for safety in case of emergencies. Previously, this was done by VHF radio or on paper. Now it must be done electronically – which is an improvement in itself, as it reduces errors and saves time at locks and traffic control centres.
However, it does require the right software on board and correctly completed and submitted reports.
The Tresco eReporting subscription: all in one
To make it as easy as possible for skippers, we bundle three functions in a single subscription: the Tresco eReporting subscription for € 240 per year.
Itinerary – Create your voyage plan in Navigis as you are used to, with waypoints, destinations and intermediate stops.
Electronic reporting (BICS) – Your voyage and cargo data is sent directly from Navigis to the waterway authorities. No separate programme, no double data entry.
CO₂ registration for Green Award – At the end of each voyage, you can share your fuel consumption and voyage data with the Green Award Foundation. One tick in your familiar “End of voyage” screen. That is all it takes.
Three functions, one subscription, from the system you already use every day. No additional hardware, no additional installation.
Integration with Green Award
Green Award Foundation has been committed to safer and more sustainable inland shipping since 2011. They do this through a certification programme and – more recently – through a separate CO₂ registration programme. These are two different things, and it is worth distinguishing between them.
Green Award certificate is a comprehensive certification based on on-board inspection, with levels bronze, silver, gold and the additional platinum zero-emission label. Certified vessels receive discounts from more than 50 parties: ports, banks, parts suppliers and service providers. Around 1,500 inland and river cruise vessels have been certified to date. Certification is handled directly by Green Award.
CO₂ registration is a new, low-threshold programme in which you share your voyage data and fuel consumption per trip with Green Award. Available for all inland and river cruise vessels. Green Award calculates your CO₂ emissions and stores the data.
It is this second option – CO₂ registration – that we make easy through the Tresco eReporting subscription.
What are the benefits?
- Port fee reduction. Inland shipping operators who share their CO₂ data via Green Award with the Port of Rotterdam receive a 5% discount on inland port dues. This applies to vessels with and without a Green Award certificate.
- Extra points for Green Award vessels. Already have a Green Award certificate? CO₂ registration can earn you additional points and improve your certification level.
- No extra administration. Tresco handles the technical side. No Excel sheets to fill in, no separate portal to open, no data to re-enter. One tick in Navigis, done.
How does it work in practice?
You know the screen: at the end of your voyage, you close your voyage in Navigis. You enter your distance sailed, fuel type and estimated consumption – data you are already recording anyway.
At the bottom you will find the option “Share report with Green Award.” Tick that box, and Tresco automatically sends your voyage data to the Green Award portal. No separate system, no Excel sheets, no manual re-entry.
How do you start with CO₂ registration via Green Award?
To share your voyage data with Green Award, you go through a few one-time steps:
- Subscribe to Tresco eReporting. Contact your dealer or our support team. The functions are activated remotely on your Navigis system.
- Register with Green Award. Send an email to inlandshipping@greenaward.org. Green Award will then create your portal login.
- Register your vessel (or vessels). Once your account is activated, you can add your vessels in the Green Award portal. You choose your preferences for data sharing: with ENI number, anonymously, or not at all.
- Select “Tresco” as your communication setting. When adding a vessel, select “Tresco” under Communication Setting. This tells Green Award that your data is delivered via Navigis.
- Tick the box in Navigis. From then on, at the end of each voyage you tick “Share report with Green Award.” Green Award receives your data and shares it at least twice a year with the parties that offer discounts.
You do not need a Green Award certificate to participate. It is open to all inland vessels.
What does it cost?
The Tresco eReporting subscription costs € 240 per year and includes Voyage Plan, electronic reporting (BICS) and CO₂ registration for Green Award. No additional hardware, no installation costs.
Have you already purchased the BICS module from Tresco? You can continue using it for the next twelve months.
Are you already using the Voyage Plan function in Navigis? Nothing changes for you as long as you only need Voyage Plan. The subscription is only required when you also want to activate BICS or Green Award. Voyage Plan is then included.
Frequently asked questions
Is electronic reporting mandatory for my vessel? On the Rhine, the electronic reporting obligation via BICS has applied since 2021 for all vessels over 110 metres, and for container, tanker and dry cargo vessels. In Flanders, a general reporting obligation has been in effect since 2022. From December 2026, Germany will also introduce a requirement for vessels over 85 metres. You can check whether the obligation applies to your vessel on the CCR website.
What is the difference between Green Award certification and CO₂ registration? Certification is a comprehensive programme with on-board inspection, a points system and levels (bronze, silver, gold and platinum label). This is managed by Green Award itself. CO₂ registration is simpler: you share your fuel consumption per voyage. Both offer benefits, but registration via the Tresco eReporting subscription is the low-threshold entry point.
Do I need a Green Award certificate to participate in CO₂ registration? No. Registration is open to all inland and river cruise vessels, with or without a Green Award certificate.
What happens to my data? Green Award processes your data in accordance with the GDPR. The CO₂ reports that Green Award shares with ports are fully anonymised and cannot be traced back to your vessel. To determine which vessels qualify for discounts, Green Award separately provides a vessel list based on ENI number – without linking it to the CO₂ data. You can adjust your preferences at any time in the Green Award portal.
I already purchased the BICS module from Tresco. Do I need to take out the subscription now? Not immediately. If you purchased the BICS module in recent years, you can continue using it for the next twelve months.
I am already using Voyage Plan in Navigis. Does anything change for me? No. As long as you only need Voyage Plan, nothing changes. The subscription is only required when you also want to activate BICS or Green Award. Voyage Plan is then included.
How do I activate the Tresco eReporting subscription? Contact your Tresco dealer or our support team. The functions are activated remotely on your existing Navigis system.
Want to know more?
The Tresco eReporting subscription is now available. Contact your dealer or our team. We’re here to help you.
Tresco Support Phone / WhatsApp: +32 3 231 07 31
Email: info@tresco.eu
