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 |
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image by Pascal Vagnat, 28 June 2015
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
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
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.
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
image by M. Schmöger, 15 Dec 2002
Germany 1949-51
image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017
White with thin black saltire and
letter P at the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017
Netherlands
image by M. Schmöger, 15 Dec 2002
France
image by Željko Heimer, 6 July 2017
Switzerland
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".
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
