River transport is ecological, cheap, and safe. The total external costs generated by river shipping is estimated 7 times lower than in the case of car transport. Unfortunately, the inland waterways transport has represented as little as 0.6 to 0.7% of the overall transport of goods for over a dozen years in Poland. The Polish river network is one of the best-developed ones in Europe, nonetheless, over 3600 km water routes remain unused, and as much as 90% of the Polish inland waterways do not satisfy legally binding usage conditions. What is more, Polish rivers have an enormous energetic potential (it amounts to ca. 6,5 TWh for Vistula only), which could be used if rivers were regulated appropriately. It is particularly essential due to a pressing need for renewable energy sources as well as for the Polish energy security. The development of inland navigation and the related infrastructure is necessary in order to avoid consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods. The aim of the Inland Navigation Program is creation of dialogue and cooperation platform for the people of business, science, and administration, in order to increase the use of Polish rivers for transport, economy, and environment in compliance with sustainable development principles.

Project Results

Dynamic development of the Program would not be possible without a unique partnership between Global Compact Network Poland and the Polish Ministry of Marine Economy and Inland Navigation, which was established at the end of 2015. The creation of the Ministry was one of the key recommendation arising from the realization of the Program in 2015 based on the series of multidimensional consultations and creation of highly substantive report "Inland Naigation- Vistula". The english summary of the report can be found under this link: http://ungc.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Inland-Navigation-Vistula.pdf