Inland waterways transport accounts for 6.3% of freight volume in the EU, with some countries that have extensive waterway infrastructure having higher shares. Some of Europe's largest seaports use inland waterways to transport freight due to increasing congestion and lack of rail capacity, with 70% of EU trade going through seaports. The availability of waterways provides a competitive advantage, such as avoiding 100,000 truck movements daily in Rotterdam. Investing in inland waterway infrastructure can help absorb major freight flows between seaports and inland economic centers, making road traffic less congested and providing an efficient transportation option.

1. Inland waterways transport has a 6,3% share of freight volume in the EU, which has some 40,000 km of navigable
waterways, but this share is considerably higher in countries with good waterway infrastructure.
Source : Eurostat, 2012
in million tonnes
Some of Europe’s largest seaports use inland waterways transport because of increasing congestion & lack of rail capacity
(70% of EU trade goes via Europe’s seaports) The availability of waterways provides a competitive edge. In Rotterdam for
instance this leads to a daily avoidance of 100,000 truck movements.
Growth rate of transport modes 1995-2012
Source : Eurostat 2012
More and more goods are transported by waterway - by absorbing major freight flows between sea-ports and our
economic hearts inland road traffic can become fluid again. In times of crisis, low infrastructure and external costs make it
an efficient investment choice
Source : CE Delft, 2011
in €/1000 t-km
External & infrastructure costs container transport
% in tonne kms
Source : Eurostat, 2012
Modal share of inland navigation by country
Source : Eurostat, 2012
Market share of transport modes in EU
Freight traffic in seaportsInland waterways transport share in ports
Inland Waterway Transport by numbersInland Waterway Transport by numbers
Source : CCNR & ports

2. 1 barge equals 200 trucks on average
Source : naiades.info
Waterway transport offers a powerful environmental answer to expensive road congestion – by investing in inland
waterway infrastructure, a future traffic jam stretching 1.5 million times around the globe can be avoided. The carbon
record is excellent and 85% air pollution reduction in the near future will save society €23 billion .
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy sources
Source : EEA
INLAND NAVIGATION EUROPE
Koning Albert II-laan 20 B-1000 Brussels
 +32 2 5536270 www.inlandnavigation.eu ine_navigation
Growing congestion and CO2 emissions
• Seaport traffic will quadruple
by 2050
• Unloading an ocean carrier
of 18,000 TEU requires on
average 60 inland ships
Congestion in the EU costs about 1% of GDP every year, or 130 BEUR
Source : ITF
Source : TREMOVE
No traffic jams and decreasing CO2 on the water