The government approves the strategic plan for the development of inland waterways in Poland

The adoption of the plan means that the rivers of Oder (throughout its length) and Vistula (from Warsaw to Gdańsk) will reach the status of international waterways by 2030. This requires upgrading navigability classes of rivers which should be obtained thanks to investments. The cost of modernization of the mentioned rivers in 2017-2020 will amount to about 1.6 billion zloty annually. The implementation of the assumptions of the development strategy for inland waterways is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation (MGMiŻŚ). The strategy provides for the revitalization of the Oder waterway, restoration of the navigability of the Vistula from Warsaw to Gdańsk, creation of connections between the rivers of Oder, Noteć, Vistula and Bug, and construction of the Silesian Canal to connect the rivers of Vistula and Oder. According to the Ministry, the most important issue is to connect the rivers of Oder, Elbe and Danube, which is currently being discussed at the international level with the neighboring countries in the South. The ratification process for the AGN convention was also started. It will enable to include three Polish inland waterways within the European Water Transportation System. According to the adopted strategy, the main objective of the development of inland waterways important for the transportation system, is to modernize them to reach at least the parameters of the 4^th class of navigability. This objective has been subdivided into four priorities, covering eleven tasks in total: Oder Waterway (E-30) – obtaining an international class of navigability and inclusion within the European network of waterways, Vistula waterway – obtaining a significant improvement of navigation conditions, connecting the rivers of Oder and Vistula, the Vistula Lagoon and Warsaw-Brześć – development of E-70 and E-40 waterways, development of partnership and cooperation in support of inland waterways. The implementation of this strategy will be carried out in stages, over a period of a dozen or so years. The estimated cost will amount to around 75 billion zloty. The financial funds will make it possible to activate the Polish rivers whose share in the transportation of goods in Poland is currently very low and amounts to merely 0.4%.