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M. Gor˛ aczko and K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
nature (channelized rivers, free-flowing rivers, channels) or the navigation parameters
(water locks, depth and width of the route, bridge heights) contributes to their low
position and marginal role in the current transportation system of Poland (0.4% of the
total transported tonnage). Some of their potentials are being utilized by the tourism
sector and in the international transport – and it is in these directions that many Polish
cities are investing the funds allocated to the development of the inland navigation.
Keywords Inland waterways · Navigation · Transportation system
18.1 Introduction
At the beginning of 2017, Poland has ratified the European Agreement on Main
Inland Waterways of International Importance (the AGN Agreement). It is a basic
document created by the UN’s Economic Commission for Europe which indicates
directions for inland waterways development in Europe. Its aim is the introduction of
a legal framework that allows for the creation of a coordinated plan for development
and construction of inland waterways of international importance based on agreed
infrastructural and operational parameters. Accession to the AGN Agreement may
allow the inclusion of inland waterways in Poland into the European transportation
corridors network TEN-T (Transeuropean Transport Network), a new EU’s policy
regarding transport infrastructure. It assumes that in the future, in the basis of the
current network of roads, railroads, airports and waterways, there will be created
a uniform, multimodal system of transeuropean transport network. Ratification of
the AGN Agreement is an explicit declaration of adaptation of key sections of the
country’s waterways to contemporary European standards, which, as it seems, will
be a very tough task to complete. Zakłada ona, ˙
ze w przyszło´ sci na bazie obecnej
sieci dróg, linii kolejowych, portów lotniczych i dróg wodnych, zostanie utworzony
jednolity, multimodalny system transeuropejskiej sieci transportowej. Undoubtedly,
however, it is the problems of inland waterway transport and the concepts of overcoming them in the coming years that will be the main tone in the discussion on
strategic directions of water management in Poland from the point of view of the
state.
The issue related to inland waterways in Poland was presented in three-time
frames: past, present, and future. In the beginning, a short outline of the history of
the use of waterways in Poland in historical times and construction of waterway
connections based on the existing river network against the background of historical
changes of the country were discussed. The second part presents the contemporary
state of inland waterway transport and the use of waterways in Poland and its causes.
A separate section is the perspective of the use of waterways in Poland, including
planned activities in the near future and their possible consequences for the socioeconomic development of the country, as well as their significance in the light of
the strategies pursued by the European Union. The study uses available literature
and materials available on the websites of offices and municipal and government
M. Gor˛ aczko and K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
nature (channelized rivers, free-flowing rivers, channels) or the navigation parameters
(water locks, depth and width of the route, bridge heights) contributes to their low
position and marginal role in the current transportation system of Poland (0.4% of the
total transported tonnage). Some of their potentials are being utilized by the tourism
sector and in the international transport – and it is in these directions that many Polish
cities are investing the funds allocated to the development of the inland navigation.
Keywords Inland waterways · Navigation · Transportation system
18.1 Introduction
At the beginning of 2017, Poland has ratified the European Agreement on Main
Inland Waterways of International Importance (the AGN Agreement). It is a basic
document created by the UN’s Economic Commission for Europe which indicates
directions for inland waterways development in Europe. Its aim is the introduction of
a legal framework that allows for the creation of a coordinated plan for development
and construction of inland waterways of international importance based on agreed
infrastructural and operational parameters. Accession to the AGN Agreement may
allow the inclusion of inland waterways in Poland into the European transportation
corridors network TEN-T (Transeuropean Transport Network), a new EU’s policy
regarding transport infrastructure. It assumes that in the future, in the basis of the
current network of roads, railroads, airports and waterways, there will be created
a uniform, multimodal system of transeuropean transport network. Ratification of
the AGN Agreement is an explicit declaration of adaptation of key sections of the
country’s waterways to contemporary European standards, which, as it seems, will
be a very tough task to complete. Zakłada ona, ˙
ze w przyszło´ sci na bazie obecnej
sieci dróg, linii kolejowych, portów lotniczych i dróg wodnych, zostanie utworzony
jednolity, multimodalny system transeuropejskiej sieci transportowej. Undoubtedly,
however, it is the problems of inland waterway transport and the concepts of overcoming them in the coming years that will be the main tone in the discussion on
strategic directions of water management in Poland from the point of view of the
state.
The issue related to inland waterways in Poland was presented in three-time
frames: past, present, and future. In the beginning, a short outline of the history of
the use of waterways in Poland in historical times and construction of waterway
connections based on the existing river network against the background of historical
changes of the country were discussed. The second part presents the contemporary
state of inland waterway transport and the use of waterways in Poland and its causes.
A separate section is the perspective of the use of waterways in Poland, including
planned activities in the near future and their possible consequences for the socioeconomic development of the country, as well as their significance in the light of
the strategies pursued by the European Union. The study uses available literature
and materials available on the websites of offices and municipal and government