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M. Gor˛ aczko and K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
channel to the requirements of contemporary waterways of international importance,
i.e., its channeling.
From the point of view of the planned development of waterways in Poland, the
key document is the resolution of the Council of Ministers of 2016 regarding the
adoption of “Assumptions for development plans for inland waterways in Poland
for 2016–2020 with a prospect until 2030” [27]. It stipulates that the main goal of
development of inland waterways important from the transport point of view is their
construction or modernization to the parameters of at least navigability Class IV and
meeting the requirements of inland waterway transport infrastructure for the TEN-T
network. This goal is divided into four priorities covering a total of eleven tasks.
Priority I concerns the Oder Waterway (E-30), assuming that it will achieve an
international navigability class and inclusion it in the European waterway network,
by eliminating the current bottlenecks, the adaptation of the Oder Waterway to the
Class Va parameters, construction of a section of the missing connection between
the Danube – Oder – Elbe and the construction of the Silesian Canal (connecting the
Vistula and Oder basins in Upper Silesia).
Priority II is connected with the striving for a significant improvement of navigational conditions on the waterway of the Vistula River, through the construction of
the Vistula cascade from Warsaw to Gda´ nsk, modernization of the upper, canalized
Vistula and the construction of a dam in Niepołomice.
The third priority area is the connections Oder – Vistula – the Vistula Lagoon and
Warsaw – Brest by extension of the E-70 and E-40 waterways. It includes preparation
for modernization of the international water route Oder – Vistula – Vistula Lagoon
(E-70) and preparation for the construction of the Polish section of the international
waterway Vistula – Dnieper (E-40) from Warsaw to Brest.
Priority IV is of organizational nature. It assumes the development of national and
international partnership and cooperation for inland waterways. The expected costs
of construction and modernization of selected Polish inland waterways in the area
of adapting them to the parameters of shipping routes of international importance
vary depending on the adopted concept and variants. Initially, it was expected that
they would amount to: for the Oder Waterway along with the Gliwice Canal and
the Oder-Danube connection – from PLN 16.5 to 22.6 billion, the middle and lower
Vistula section from Warsaw to Gda´ nsk – approximately PLN 31.5 billion, Silesia
Canal – approximately PLN 11.0 billion, and the Warsaw-Brest waterway – from 8.1
to PLN 25.5 billion. Currently, the total costs of the above investments are estimated
at PLN 60–150 billion.
Shaping the vision of the future state and the importance of waterways in Poland
takes place under conditions of acute dispute. It is assumed that it takes place
between hydrotechnicians and naturalists, but its nature is more complex. It is worth
to notice how divided in this respect is the environment of Polish hydrologists.
They fall into both ranks of hot supporters of the reconstruction of waterways as
well as their declared opponents. The discussion between the shipping lobby and
non-governmental environmental organizations continues.
In the first place, it should be considered whether the current program of development of waterways in Poland takes into account the current state of knowledge
M. Gor˛ aczko and K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
channel to the requirements of contemporary waterways of international importance,
i.e., its channeling.
From the point of view of the planned development of waterways in Poland, the
key document is the resolution of the Council of Ministers of 2016 regarding the
adoption of “Assumptions for development plans for inland waterways in Poland
for 2016–2020 with a prospect until 2030” [27]. It stipulates that the main goal of
development of inland waterways important from the transport point of view is their
construction or modernization to the parameters of at least navigability Class IV and
meeting the requirements of inland waterway transport infrastructure for the TEN-T
network. This goal is divided into four priorities covering a total of eleven tasks.
Priority I concerns the Oder Waterway (E-30), assuming that it will achieve an
international navigability class and inclusion it in the European waterway network,
by eliminating the current bottlenecks, the adaptation of the Oder Waterway to the
Class Va parameters, construction of a section of the missing connection between
the Danube – Oder – Elbe and the construction of the Silesian Canal (connecting the
Vistula and Oder basins in Upper Silesia).
Priority II is connected with the striving for a significant improvement of navigational conditions on the waterway of the Vistula River, through the construction of
the Vistula cascade from Warsaw to Gda´ nsk, modernization of the upper, canalized
Vistula and the construction of a dam in Niepołomice.
The third priority area is the connections Oder – Vistula – the Vistula Lagoon and
Warsaw – Brest by extension of the E-70 and E-40 waterways. It includes preparation
for modernization of the international water route Oder – Vistula – Vistula Lagoon
(E-70) and preparation for the construction of the Polish section of the international
waterway Vistula – Dnieper (E-40) from Warsaw to Brest.
Priority IV is of organizational nature. It assumes the development of national and
international partnership and cooperation for inland waterways. The expected costs
of construction and modernization of selected Polish inland waterways in the area
of adapting them to the parameters of shipping routes of international importance
vary depending on the adopted concept and variants. Initially, it was expected that
they would amount to: for the Oder Waterway along with the Gliwice Canal and
the Oder-Danube connection – from PLN 16.5 to 22.6 billion, the middle and lower
Vistula section from Warsaw to Gda´ nsk – approximately PLN 31.5 billion, Silesia
Canal – approximately PLN 11.0 billion, and the Warsaw-Brest waterway – from 8.1
to PLN 25.5 billion. Currently, the total costs of the above investments are estimated
at PLN 60–150 billion.
Shaping the vision of the future state and the importance of waterways in Poland
takes place under conditions of acute dispute. It is assumed that it takes place
between hydrotechnicians and naturalists, but its nature is more complex. It is worth
to notice how divided in this respect is the environment of Polish hydrologists.
They fall into both ranks of hot supporters of the reconstruction of waterways as
well as their declared opponents. The discussion between the shipping lobby and
non-governmental environmental organizations continues.
In the first place, it should be considered whether the current program of development of waterways in Poland takes into account the current state of knowledge