One of the objectives of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is to ensure that European waterways are well integrated in the European transport system, promoting as much as possible inland navigation as a sustainable transport mode. The TEN-T guidelines of 2013 stipulate that, by 2030, navigable waterways of European interest have to achieve "good navigation status (GNS)". This means that these waterways have to help in reaching the full potential of inland navigation in Europe. However, the TEN‐T guidelines do not provide a definition for "good navigation status". The European Commission asked a pan-European consortium to conduct a study in order to define the "Good Navigation Status" concept together with the member states, river commissions and users before the end of 2017.
The objective of the study is to substantiate the concept of GNS referred to in article 15(3)b of the TEN-T guidelines. This article stipulates that “rivers, canals and lakes are maintained so as to preserve Good Navigation Status while respecting the applicable environmental law”. More specific, the study aims to specify, in close cooperation with relevant experts, a broadly accepted concept of GNS and a common methodology that allows a sufficient level of differentiation to the various corridors and specific demand requirements and transport characteristics.
The following definition was developed during the study “Good navigation status means the state of the inland navigation transport network, which enables efficient, reliable and safe navigation for users by ensuring minimum waterway parameters values and levels of service”. Moreover, GNS is to be achieved considering the wider socio economic sustainability of waterway management transport characteristics. The key focus of GNS is on physical waterway infrastructure.
The objective of the study outcome is to come up with:
- a concept for good navigation status,
- a network assessment ( identify the existing bottlenecks)
- roadmaps for critical sections of the TEN-T network
- good practise guidelines for implementation of the GNS concept (a manual that shall serve as guidance for waterway administrations on how to achieve and maintain a Good Navigation Status on the European waterway network by 2030)
- exemptions criteria (criteria for justification of exemption of the minimum requirements on draught (2.5 m) and heights under bridges (5.25 m), in accordance with article 15 of the TEN-T guidelines)
The use of the result is open: this means that the study will only serve as a technical input for the European Commission:
- input for a guidance document for member states by the EC
- input for further policies by the EC; this could involve
- link to further work in Core network Corridors
- basis for project selection criteria by INEA[1] (Connecting Europe Facility funding)
The paper will provide an overview of the main outcomes of the study.
The primary audience is waterway managers, waterway administrations, project engineers, the users of the waterways,…..
[1] The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency is the successor of the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency, which was created by the European Commission in 2006 to manage the technical and financial implementation of its TEN-T programme.