Inland Waterway Transport System
In this section you will learn more about the inland waterway transport system and
its different elements goods, vessels, inland waterways and ports.
This topic follows the structure of the conceptual system model of
transport and traffic.
7. Summary
Since inland waterway transport is not as distinctive as transport by other modes, it may be interesting to know what speaks in favor of inland waterway transport and what speaks against it.
What speaks for the transport by inland vessels are the low transport costs and CO2-emissions. Compared to trucks, inland vessels can cover further distances with a much larger transport capacity. This makes them very efficient and could even relieve the roads and rails.
Some more reasons for and against inland waterway transport are listed below.
Reasons for inland waterway transport
- high single loading weights
- large transport capacity (economy of scale - high efficiency)
- processing of heavy goods traffic
- punctuality (no congestion) and reliability
- usually year-round navigability (365 days a year)
- wide range of special ships
- low transport costs
- safety transport
- environmentally friendly transport
- spare capacities
- no complete area coverage
- without own mooring place increased costs due to broken transport chains
- dependence on water level, ice drift and fog
- long transportation time
- inertia/backwardness in the system itself e.g. outdated technology
If you are interested in other modes of transport too, feel free to check our other topics maritime transport system, road transport system, rail transport system and air transport system.
Literature
Nuhn, H.; Hesse, M. (2006): Verkehrsgeographie, Schöningh Verlag, Paderborn.
Schulte, C. (1991): Logistik. Wege zur Optimierung des Material- und Informationsflusses. Verlag Franz Vahlen, München. pp. 64-65.
Wannenwetsch H.H. (2008): Transportsysteme. In: Intensivtraining Produktion, Einkauf, Logistik und Dienstleistung. Gabler, Wiesbaden.