Inland Waterways

Inland Waterways is a relatively small transport sector, dominated by small scale enterprises and owner operators working in a transnational environment. This requires a bold approach on the European level in order to offer appropriate social protection. Inland waterways also carry a booming river cruise industry, where workers are often agency staff with poor pay and conditions.

Approximately 40000 people are active on Europe’s 41500km of waterways, of which 11% are women. 24 Member States have waterways but only 14 are part of the interconnected waterway network.

Inland Waterways has approximately a 6.3% share of the total freight volumes in Europe.  65% of all freight transport takes place on the Rhine Corridor of which 70% in the Netherlands and Germany. There is still a vast potential to increase the share of freight carried by inland waterways, since they are reliable, energy efficient and still have a lot of unused capacity.

The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine, with the support of the European Commission, regularly publishes an Inland Waterways Market Insight, which can be found in English, French, German and Dutch.