Inland waterway transport

Inland waterway transport moves passengers or goods on navigable rivers, canals, lakes, and other waters away from the open sea. It uses vessels suited to inland routes and their depth, width, and infrastructure.

Canal lock: A gated chamber that raises or lowers vessels between sections of water at different levels. Locks let vessels cross elevation changes along rivers and canals.
Barge: A flat-bottomed vessel used mainly to carry freight on rivers, canals, and sheltered waters. Barges carry bulk cargo efficiently on waterways with suitable depth and clearance.
Transport energy efficiency: The amount of transport work achieved per unit of energy consumed. Large vessel loads can make inland freight energy-efficient per tonne-kilometre.
Road freight transport: The movement of goods by road vehicles, including trucks and lorries. Road freight offers flexible door-to-door service where waterways require terminals and transfers.
Erie Canal: A canal across New York State, opened in 1825, connecting the Hudson River with Lake Erie. Its opening linked Atlantic trade to the Great Lakes by an inland route.
Ship canal: An artificial waterway built or enlarged to accommodate vessel traffic between waterways or regions. Canals create navigable links where natural waterways do not provide a suitable route.
Container-on-barge transport: The movement of freight containers on barges along inland waterways. Container barges connect inland terminals to seaports and regional logistics networks.
Modal shift: The transfer of travel or freight demand from one transport mode to another. Moving suitable freight from roads to waterways can reduce road traffic.
Rail freight transport: The movement of goods by trains over railway networks. Rail competes for long-distance bulk and container traffic with different network constraints.
Grand Canal (China): A network of waterways in China linking northern and southern regions, developed over many centuries. It is a major historical example of inland transport supporting regional integration.

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