Inland shipping has been of great importance for trade and the economy for centuries. The Rhine played a prominent role for Western Europe, which is why the first steps towards integration took place in Rhine shipping. International negotiations provided the opportunity to resolve intergovernmental issues and led to the establishment of standards that contributed to the smooth operation of international shipping. This volume examines, for the first time, standardizations in Rhine shipping from a historical perspective using representative case studies, and considers the structures of international regimes, the processes of will formation and decision-making, as well as the content of the standards. The comparison of integration in the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries reveals differences and similarities. This study is relevant for political, transport, and economic historians with an interest in international relations.