The importance of the canals for small commercial inland navigation

1. The importance of the canalsfor small commercial inlandnavigation Bart Verkade Entrepreneur in inlandshipping waterwayXpertgroup 'Your way to the waterway!'

2. Size 80 x 8,2m Depth 2,50m 1000-1500 ton = 1.000.000-1.500.000 kg

4. Introduction • Holland has over 5.000km of waterways • And 65% of these are classified as small (I-IV) • Accesiblefor ‘small’ shipsonly (up to 1.500 ton) • Andhow is the rest of the World?

5. Fromsmalltobigand back time

6. Opportunities • a congestion free mode of transportation; • an environmental friendly way of moving goods and people; • a safe way of transportation

7. Then we need • the preservance and renewal of small cargo ships; • the availability of port facilities; • and – above all – the existence of well maintained, (small) waterways

8. Small Ship project • good ships (small, green and efficient) • good staff (educated/trained and motivated) • scaled regulation (some rules do not fit small ships) • and, last but not least, good infrastructure

9. FlexFleet

10. Goodinfrastructure This is the point where leisure shipping and professional shipping meet. We both benefit from the same infrastructure. Every small canal that is not closed is beneficial for all of us. Or even better, every old canal that is reopened gives us both opportunities!

11. Specificexamples in Europe • the small French waterways • a new canal between the ‘Twentekanaal’ (NL) and the ‘Mittellandkanal’(DE) and create a tremendous shortcut. And avoids the Rhine in East-West traffic • more examples?

12. Discussion • a temporary taskforce to identify the potential of areas where both leisure and professional shipping have interests in building, keeping or restoring (small) waterways. Consisting of members from our international bodies. Starting at the continental level, and moving to the regional level if appropriate. • and more?

14. Yes, we can ..!

15. Yes, we canal!