The importance of the canals for small commercial inland navigation

Bart VerkadeEntrepreneur in inland shipping

waterwayXpertgroup'Your way to the waterway!'

 

Size 80 x 8,2m

Depth 2,50m

1000-1500 ton =1.000.000-1.500.000 kg

Introduction

• Holland has over 5.000km of waterways• And 65% of these are classified as small (I-IV)• Accesible for ‘small’ ships only (up to 1.500 ton)

• And how is the rest of the World?

From small to big and back

time

Opportunities

• a congestion free mode of transportation;• an environmental friendly way of moving

goods and people;• a safe way of transportation

Then we need

• the preservance and renewal of small cargo ships;

• the availability of port facilities;

• and – above all – the existence of well maintained, (small) waterways

Small Ship project

• good ships (small, green and efficient)• good staff (educated/trained and motivated)• scaled regulation (some rules do not fit small

ships) • and, last but not least, good infrastructure

FlexFleet

Good infrastructure

This is the point where leisure shipping and professional shipping meet. We both benefit from the same infrastructure. Every small canal that is not closed is beneficial for all of us. Or even better, every old canal that is reopened gives us both opportunities!

Specific examples in Europe

• the small French waterways• a new canal between the ‘Twentekanaal’ (NL)

and the ‘Mittellandkanal’(DE) and create a tremendous shortcut. And avoids the Rhine in East-West traffic

• more examples?

Discussion

• a temporary taskforce to identify the potential of areas where both leisure and professional shipping have interests in building, keeping or restoring (small) waterways. Consisting of members from our international bodies. Starting at the continental level, and moving to the regional level if appropriate.

• and more?

Yes, we can ..!

Yes, we canal!