news February 2015 Periodic information bulletin for members of Inland Waterways International
GERMANY published in UK at Ingles Manor, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2RD IWI at Finow symposium
IWI will attend an important symposium to to hearing the positions of all parties involved, be held in Eberswalde on the historic Finow and hope to report a positive outcome. Canal north of Berlin, on February 9. The National and local issues will be on the agenda. background to the Finow Canal, and the The national issue is the financing of mainte- issues faced by all the smaller waterways nance and operation of recreational water- in the Federal Republic, are presented ways, if they are handed over by the Federal here. Read also the economic perspective Government to the Länder. Government policy presented by Peter Linssen on p. 7. is to maintain only intensively-used waterways, and to ‘resolve the competition for resources hreatened waterways’ is the in the management of secondary versus main subject of the Symposium organised by waterways’ by improving cooperation between ‘Tthe association Unser Finowkanal and the Federal and Land levels. its president Prof. Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert. Delegates from across Germany will assemble ‘Remainder’ waterways in the Paul-Wunderlich-Haus in Eberswalde For legal reasons this requires ‘declassification’ to discuss how the current challenges to the of the waterways, which would remain State Bedrohte Wasserwege could be overcome. property. The Federal Government has offered The organisers are delighted to be receiving to pay half of the €30 million investment still international support, and three IWI corpo- needed to make the Finow Canal fully and rate members will be present. Linssen Boating sustainably operational. Brandenburg, for Holidays will be represented by Dr Lorenzo its part, needs the commitment of the local Guendel of Puur Yachtcharter (which has municipalities along the canal to cover the bases on Lake Müritz, at Zehdenick on the other 50%, also using some Federal economic A vocation is born contemplating a yacht, dreaming of Havel and Lake Constance); vice-president development funds. Then there is the ongoing voyages to exciting places, at the impeccably restored David Edwards-May will attend; and the operation and maintenance without any Stadtschleuse in Eberswalde. © Mathias B. Saale-Elster Kanal association’s president Federal contribution. A detailed study of the Michael Witfer will make a presentation. costs was supposed to be undertaken in 2015, The risk is similar to that faced by the Meetings have been arranged with mayors of but support for this study is understood to ‘Remainder waterways’ in the UK in 1968. several communities along the Finow Canal, have been withdrawn. It appears to be the on Tuesday 10th February. We look forward local level that is most reluctant to commit Voluntary labour ØSTERSØEN funds to the canal. The local issue is the opposition of Federal OSTSEE For the Länder, the transfer staff to use of voluntary labour to man the Eide NORDSEE r of responsibility for waterways locks. After restoration in 2003, 10 of the Eiderkanal implies a host of responsibili- Finow Canal locks were operated by a munic- Niedersachsen Müritz- waterways H Elde W. ties and liabilities in an area ipal working group. Müritz Obere-Havel-
Wasserstraße where there is no experience Lock-keepers were recruited from among r Elisabethfehnk. Ilmenau e d El O B be at the local level. The so-called the long-term unemployed in the area, who We ser Linksemsiche Aller Finowkanal ‘tertiary’ waterways are thus received one day’s training by the waterway Kanäle B under threat of closure if the authority, and then worked for one season Friedrich- Elbe Wilhelm- local authorities fail to agree only. As Hartmut writes in his letter on Spoy-Kanal M Kanal Sa on the funding of maintenance p.7, the WSA staff council only grudgingly Oberweser al e Saale-Elsterkanal and operation. accepted this scheme, despite the fact that the D L Fulda F K ul U t Elsterfloßgraben jobs had already disappeared, then opposed D da nstru D Location of the so-called ‘tertiary’ a pragmatic extension of the scheme to use Rh e in waterways of Germany. Those Lahn voluntary labour on these 10 locks. marked in red will be represented at F--M There is some good news from Germany, el os the Eberswalde conference. Other M however, suggesting that solutions can be found. threatened waterways (green) are the Main This is the change in position of the WSA Saar N Spoy Kanal (Briene Lock) giving access Main- responsible for the river Saar. The authority e S Donau arn Saar, Güdingen Do M Neckar Kanal nau to Kleve, and canoeing rivers and agreed in 2014 to fund restoration of Güdingen C. de la Sarre mill streams in the Black Forest. The lock on the upstream length of the canalised eine S S future of Güdingen lock on the Saar Canoeing rivers M river. This example underlines the importance
in and mill streams e (grey) has been secured. High-ranking h of getting round the table and working out solu- R Lake Constance delegates are expected from all over tions to seemingly inextricable situations. Germany. © dem-transmanche [see Letters p. 7] 1
Drava IWI ACTIVITIESINLAND WATERWAYS INTERNATIONAL
magazine. Members are encouraged to provide AGM in Milan this type of article to Dave MacDougall, Secretary IWI had the biggest ever attendance at for consideration for the newsletter and magazine. its AGM, in Lombardy Region’s Palazzo WCC 2015 will be hosted in Ghent, Belgium. Sistema in Milan on August 31, 2014. WCC 2016 will be hosted by Scottish Canals in Secretary Dave MacDougall summarises Inverness. The host for 2017 will be announced the proceedings. at the end of the 2014 conference, based on a recommendation by the selection committee and IWI’s Annual General Meeting at the World Canals approval of IWI Council. Conference venue opened with a presentation by David Holder and Duncan Hay on behalf of Two new Council members were Delegates were taken for a memorable boat trip on the Syracuse, New York, USA, the Erie Canal National appointed in January. Peter Linssen repre- Naviglio Grande on the second day of the WCC (here Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal sents the two Linssen group companies (see passing a pontoon for small craft). dem Corporation, supporting their application to host Peter’s letter about the Finow Canal, p.7), and the World Canals Conference in 2017. is involved with marketing and strategy. He Motions were passed (a) to accept the treasurer’s was an individual member of IWI from 2010, Syracuse NY was confirmed as the venue report for 2013, and to accept Mike Reid’s resig- then signed up Linssen & Linssen as corporate of the WCC in 2017 during the closing session nation and appoint Norman Smith as Treasurer, member (with the trading name Linssen Boating of the Milan conference, following a decision (b) to change the postal address for IWI to the Holidays). The company not only builds vessels by the selection committee formed this year by Folkestone, UK address (as on p.1), (c) to elect for recreational boating, but also promotes a Rory Robinson, Roger Squires and Linda Barth. Roger Squires, Bob Sears, David Wadham, Colin Europe-wide network of hire boat bases. Peter The 2017 conference will explore and celebrate Becker and Katie Boyd-Wetter as Council members brings his knowledge and experience of the boat inland waterways as ‘agents of transformation: of IWI for a 3-year term, (d) to amend our WCC building and hire boat businesses to Council. once mothers of cities and ports, transformers organizers’ handbook to include an educational Barbara Sheridan is first vice-president of of landscapes and builders of nations; now foci component as a requested item at a World Canals the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Association in for revitalizing communities, makers of power Conference. the US. This independent citizens association is and suppliers of essential water’. We have hired a webmaster to manage our IWI actively involved in conservation of the natural website and we are seeing improvements. and historical environment of the C&O Canal New business alliance Michel Raffin, president, and Hélène de Morsier, and the Potomac River Basin. Barbara has had One of IWI’s corporate members, a constant vice-president of the Alliance des Rhodaniens, many years’ experience working as part of this supporter and supplier of services, Euromapping, gave a brief presentation on the objectives of their volunteer organization, and has also been a has been wound up. Fortunately, the publishing organization and their work, particularly on the regular delegate at the WCC in recent years, and consulting activity developed by David Rhône in France and Switzerland, but also tours to starting in Serbia in 2009, also participating in Edwards-May since 1990 will now continue as part waterways throughout Europe. pre- and post-conference tours. Barbara presents of Transmanche Consultants of Lambersart (near It was approved to include more academic or the delicate issue of charging to use the C&O Lille), also a supporter and corporate member of IWI. educational oriented articles in our newsletter and Canal’s towpath on p.5. David’s work will continue as part of Transmanche, evidenced by the recently published 5th edition Adieu Sonia Sonia Rolt died peace- was through her time on the IWA committee that of the European Waterways Map and fully in hospital on 22 October after a short her relationship developed with canal author and Directory (see p.7), with separate French and illness, at the age of 95. Her death has meant IWA co-founder Tom Rolt. Her interests encom- German editions (the latter published by Delius the passing of the last of the ‘idle women’ who passed all heritage, and she became a member Klasing as an Edition Maritim title). So the important was still actively involved with the canals. The of the Landmark Trust. She supported IWI from its work will be carried on with David still being a core historic photo shows Sonia in about June 1945 foundation, and was an enthusiastic participant part of that. Good luck to David and Transmanche! drawing political slogans (‘Vote Labour’ and ‘A in several of the continental tours organised by fair deal for boaters’) on the cabin of her GUCCC founder Ron Oakley, and twice attended the WCC. Welcome to new members motor Phobos. It was her political activism that In her 96th year, Sonia attended the Hay Literary Corporate attracted her to the newly founded IWA in 1946. Festival in May, where the 70th anniversary of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Ireland Contrasting with her life ‘on the cut’ married to her late husband Tom Rolt’s great work, Narrow McMullan & Associates Inc. USA boatman George Smith, she was able to give Boat, was celebrated in style. Then as late as Individual articulate representation for saving canal carrying August, Sonia gave an interview to Canal Boat Sharon Leighton USA and improving the lot of the working boatmen. It magazine, which appeared in its November issue. Magnus Rönmark Sweden For those who knew her, her energy and passion for life never ceased IWI Newsletter is a digital document distrib- to amaze, and remained with her uted to members by e-mail every few months. almost to her end. A memorial A print-out is available on request for members service for Sonia will be held who do not have e-mail. The magazine World at St Paul’s Crypt in London, on Wide Waterways continues to appear separately. May 14 at 2:30 pm. tim Coghlan Editor : David Edwards-May [email protected] +33 603 600098 Sonia Rolt at the opening parade of Please note that comments and opinions expressed boats at the 2006 Braunston Historic in IWI’s publications are those of the authors, Narrowboat Rally. named or otherwise, and do not necessarily reflect 2 the position of the Association as a whole.
President’s notes Canal du Midi research and ‘Ski Doos’. The list is almost limitless, and here ew corporate member Denis McMullan I’ve only only talked about the canal proper and (CEO of McMullan & Associates, Inc.) not the wonderful opportunities that towpaths Nwill visit the archives and a number of offer, for things like cross-country skiing, snow- the oldest structures on the Canal du Midi in shoeing and such where snow conditions allow. May. He hopes to find answers to questions This certainly hasn’t been a recent phenom- that arose when he started working on the enon. There are countless pictures of events restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio canal on frozen canals. Events previously mentioned aqueducts. Denis hopes to get under early like car and motorcycle races, hockey matches, aqueducts and obtain an understanding s I sit in my office and look out over the curling, speed skating and just fun skating in the of how they were built, using what kind of winter landscape outside my window as clothes of yesteryears or things not so common mortar, and above all what technique to A the temperature slowly rises for the day now such as dog sled and horse races on the ice. make them watertight, He was familiar with from an overnight low of -25° C, I can’t help but So what about today ? Well in so many places a number of Irish canal aqueducts that had think that canals and winter don’t necessarily go this tradition flourishes or is again awakening to used at least 12“ (30 cm) of clay, not only hand in hand! a new generation of budding ice stars. Places like in the trunk floor but also in between the Many watch as boats are put away or stored for the Netherlands where it has been a strong tradi- two wythes of the parapet walls. Similar to the winter, canal reaches are drained, dams set, tion to skate on the miles of canals, including in the Roman wall techniques that were used and it gives the sense that the canal is going Amsterdam. Another location that is well known on the Midi, according to the literature, into a long winter sleep only to wake again in is the Rideau Canal Skateway and its winter but no mention of clay used on the Midi the spring. Many turn their backs to the canals festival called Winterlude, which takes place on aqueducts. He will be accompanied by during the winter months. Well, that may be the the canal section through the centre of Ottawa. David Edwards-May, who currently has an common thinking and happen There is skating in Buffalo on assignment on the Midi with Michel Cotte in some places, however, in their ‘Ice at Canalside’ on the (preparing the future management plan for many communities in northern footprint of the old Erie Canal. the Canal du Midi, as required for UNESCO- climates the reality can be Then there are the hopes that designated World Heritage sites). VNF’s much different. There canals there will be skating in the Canal du Midi archivist Samuel Vannier will just change uses and have a near future on the Lachine open some of the precious files, including new vibrant life. Canal. Those who attended drawings and engineers’ correspondence. Canal operators/organiza- the WCC there in 2002 will Ideally, mortar samples would be taken, tions, recreational groups, remember our visit to the but Denis is not too optimistic about his municipalities, service organi- Lachine Canal, though that day chances of scraping off and taking samples zations, volunteer groups there was no ice. The only issue back home to analyse! According to VNF’s participate to make this related to winter skating is Jacques Noisette, VNF would not have change happen. It can also be climate change and some are stored samples of mortar when restoration a father or mother out clearing predicting that with the rising works were performed. a small patch of ice on a canal temperatures (hard to believe somewhere so their kids can The Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa they are rising here today) skate and play ice games. These will over time impact on the activities get people outdoors, physically active, severity of winters and see a gradual warming of coming together as groups, opportunities to winter temperatures. It could mean perhaps less socialize and most important give the canal skating and perhaps longer boating seasons, so another life while introducing new people to canals may be well positioned either way? the canal. It allows people to get on the canal It is not a joking matter, however, today winter without a boat or other means. They get to see activities on the canal where it is possible, when some of the perspectives that users and boaters temperature and ice conditions allow, is an excel- Vauban’s Cesse aqueduct © Arnold & Els of the canal see. It is a unique opportunity not lent way to pass those winter months and be out only for canals to have another life, but to add a on a canal. Operators of canals should ensure Also interested in this project are members new dimension to the profile and importance that they are in a position to reach out to those Mike Clarke and Nicholas Hammond, who of a canal. So, what types of activities take place guests with the hope and objective of having have both investigated the various ways on the canal ? The obvious ones for us in Canada them come back in the navigation season and that English canal engineering was inspired are skating for enjoyment and exercise, playing be a supporter of their canal. Providing an ice by the earlier French experience in the 17th hockey and speed skating. But many other surface can be expensive to ensure a good century. The Duke of Bridgewater visited events and activities happen on the ice surface. and safe skating experience. However, it does the Cesse aqueduct on the Canal du Midi Winter carnavals with a myriad of activities either provide opportunities for partnerships, sponsors, while he was studying engineering at the individually are as part of a larger event, such as business/revenue opportunities, marketing Académie in Lyon in 1753-54, and used it snow sculptures, figure skating performances, and tourism initiatives and building support in as evidence that the Barton aqueduct over curling events, concerts always with the winter the community for the canal, its heritage and the Irwell, of very similar dimensions, was food fares, i.e., hot chocolate or in Ottawa ‘beaver importance to the economy and area. These are feasible. This was contrary to the accepted tails’ which are a great favourite. There can be certainly high expectations, but opportunities opinion of the engineering establishment other events that certainly attract people to the that are available in what is normally considered in England at that time. He did however canal to see events even if they do not partici- the off season. experience problems with the lining at pate including ice racing for cars, motorcycles Dave Ballinger, January 2015 Barton. À suivre ! 3 ABOUT OUR MEMBERS
Morris Canal Field Guide to be ordered from http://www.delius-klasing. to try to obtain access to this unique site, not Members Jakob Franke and Linda Barth de. Finally, the French edition, with translation open to the general public. The tour includes (along with co-authors John Drennan and by former Fluvial editor Richard Walter, will Hangzhou and its canal museum and boat Ron Rice, and cartographer Gary Kleinedler) appear in late February. tour, Gong Chen Qiao, Tangqi Guang, Ji are to be congratulated on publication of the Qiao, Wuxi (boat tour), museum, Yangzhou first comprehensive Field Guide to the (Zhenjiang, Gaoyou, canal boat trip), Gaoyou, Morris Canal of New Jersey. The easy-to- Huai An aqueduct, three locks boat tour from use, 8.5 by 11-inch full color guide includes a Qingjiangpu to Chuzou, Xuzhou, Jining, the brief history of the canal, a table of significant Nangwang watershed, old canal bed and asso- Beijing features, glossary and bibliography. It covers ciated structures, side ponds, Dragon King the 102-mile canal in 23 sections of about 4.5 Temple, Grand CanalTianjin Museum, Liaocheng miles each. Each section has points of interest boat tour and museum,Haihe River and Linqing (old (with GPS data), a list of facilities, directions, bridges and locks).Cangzhou Bohai Gulf historical commentary, a detailed map, and Dezhou r photos, both historic and current. Rive Linqing w l llo ana Ye C ji g n Liaocheng 孔子 Qufu Confucius Mansion Yo Daicun Dam Nanwang Mount Taishan Jining Qingdao
Weishan Lake The new edition was sponsored by the Linjiaba Lock XietaiLiushan Lock Lock T Linssen companies. ong ji Xuzhou Ca n a l Huaiyin Lock Huaian East Tom Grasso defending Port Byron Hongze Lake Huai’an Lock China and aqueduct Sea Huai River The Port Byron Erie Canal Heritage Park, Gaoyou Lake Gaoyou Shaobo Lock Yangzhou including valuable heritage of the enlarged Erie Nanjing Jianbi Lock Canal (1851) and 1895 tavern is becoming prac- Zhenjiang e Dabie Shan tz Rouge Wuhan ng Canal Wuxi tically a full-time occupation of Tom Grasso. Mountains Ya Taihu Suzhou As president of the Canal Society of New York Lake Shanghai Jiaxing State, he is partnering with the project ‘owner’,Lushui Lift Huang Shan Sanbao Lock Mountains Hangzhou Jiujiang the New York State Thruway Authority, and Qiantang River This long-awaited Guiji Shan is struggling to ensure that the result will do Mountains publication is a mile-by- justice to the heritage, with proper interpreta- mile, turn-by-turn guide tion and not just facilities for motorists and a for following the Morris few token signs. The concerns are illustrated CroisiEurope revives paddles Canal from Phillipsburg by this view of the asphalt laid out through the The family company CroisiEurope, based in to Jersey City. Users are site, and through both the lock chambers. The Strasbourg, has launched the Loire Princess, invited to see how the hard-top may have been dictated by Thruway a unique vessel in having four independent Morris Canal Greenway standards, but was this the right choice for a engines, the two central paddles as in the historic is developing. full appreciation of the site? paddle steamers, and bow and stern thrusters. The design was dictated by the particular char- acteristics of the Loire up to Angers, which Copies may be ordered and paid for by PayPal meant that the 95m long vessel’s draught had to on the site www.morriscanalguide.com. Or be no more than 70 cm ! Since there are no locks directly from either Jakob Franke, 424 Tappan on the Loire, the extra width of the paddles was Road, Northvale, NJ 07647- 1418; 201-768-3612 feasible, without affecting the carrying capacity. [email protected], or Bob Barth at 201-401- Total beam is 15m. The vessel will usually 3121; [email protected]. The price is $25 plus $5 operate throughout the 120km from Saint- shipping. Nazaire upstream to Angers, but in times of very Europe map, 5th edition low flows, cruises may be limited to Ancenis. Transmanche Publications published in Artwways network planned late November 2014 the 5th edition of the David Edwards-May has been signed up by two European Waterways map and directory by barge-owners (one French, the other Belgian) to David Edwards-May, building on the contents research and lay the foundations for a permanent elaborated with Euromapping’s staff members Grand Canal exploration network of ‘cultural inland vessels’. Provisionally over 20 years. This follows the merger of Norwegian members Edith and Snorre Dag named Artwways, the network would build Euromapping and Transmanche, which also Bronder will make a personal exploration of on the founders’ experience with their three took place in November. The map is available China’s Grand Canal in March 2015. They unique vessels. These are the Colporteur with on the new web site transmanche.net/shop, or are learning Chinese, and have made detailed the submarine Axolotl, already present for the through other stockists such as french-water- preparations for their northbound tour along Roubaix reopening in 2009, the Hydroplane ways.com, Imray or IWA. In January Delius the canal, with assistance from Dr Xingming with its inflatable balloon, and the Fairy, fitted Klasing published the German edition of the Zhong. IWI’s president has written to the out as a permanent gas-fired pyrotechnical map and directory, in the Edition Maritim conservators of the Nangwang heritage site exhibition. All three vessels will be together for series of inland waterway maps and guides, at the summit level in Shangdong Province, one of the main events of Mons 2015 European 4 NEWS Cultural Capital. This is at the western end of the INTERNATIONAL Sambre-Oise reopening in sight famous Canal du Centre in Belgium. In view of New age of ship canals? Local authorities are increasingly impatient the complexity and cost of mobile displays and Ship canals have been much in the news in to see the repair works completed on the shows like these, it is felt that others throughout recent months. As works near completion on failed aqueducts of the Canal de la Sambre à Europe with equivalent ambitions would be the enlarged Panama Canal, to be opened in l’Oise. But the end of the tunnel is in sight. interested in joining a network that could pool 2016, Egypt has started works on a second Suez Funding of the works, for a total of €12 technical, legal and commercial resources and Canal, to by-pass the existing section that is million, has been agreed, and the canal could attract sponsors and institutional funding. limited to one-way traffic. With these two canals reopen in 2016. Please contact [email protected] with any soon to be capable of handling the demand for ideas you may wish to share. the cost-saving ‘short cuts’, avoiding the Cape of Arzviller reopened May 2015 Good Hope and Cape Horn, it came as a surprise The Arzviller inclined plane, closed since to hear of the ground-breaking ceremony for July 2014 after its second failure in two years, the future Nicaragua Ship Canal, a truly is expected to reopen in May this year. ‘mega’ project that is being built and funded by the Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development New locks projected on Upper Rhône Investment Co. (HKND), headed by Chinese The Brégnier-Cordon hydropower dam on entrepreneur Wang Jing. It is expected to take the Upper Rhône is to be bypassed by a pair five years to complete at a cost of $50 billion. of locks with a combined lift of 18 m. The The ceremony was held just before Christmas locks are subject to environmental and socio- at Brito, on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. There is economic impact studies to be conducted no lack of opposition to this project, especially during the first semester of 2015. The works French-Waterways.com expands regarding the impacts on Lake Nicaragua, are part of the investment programme of the Member french-waterways.com is a compre- 8264 km2, at an altitude of 33m. Protests are Compagnie Nationale du Rhône. hensive online portal with information about continuing. The canal, first envisaged under self-drive boating vacations, luxury hotel barge the USA-Nicaragua Bryan-Chamorro treaty of USA charters, small ship river cruises, waterside 1916 to compete with the Panama Canal, would C&O Canal charge planned property and boats for sale. Now, as part of the be nearly 280 km long, of which 80 km across The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National website’s 2015 re-launch, waterways expert and the lake. Finally, Kazakhstan is promoting the Historical Park plans to start charging cartographer David Edwards-May will take the Eurasia canal, also called the Manych Ship entrance fees for the entire length of the park editorial helm of the authoritative ‘practical Canal, that would run through existing reser- to offset federal budget cuts, and to generate navigation’ section (the foundation of the site voirs in the Kuma-Manych depression in Russia, additional funds for improvements. The over 10 years ago) based on his guide Inland from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea. This is a Canal’s yearly budget has been reduced by Waterways of France together with James and ‘higher-capacity’ alternative to another Russian more than a million dollars since 2010, while Ruth Newcombe’s notes compiled from thou- project, which involves doubling the Volga-Don the number of full-time employees at the park sands of kilometres of own-boat exploration. Canal. (Both routes are shown on the new map.) has dropped by more than 20% (to around They will resume cruising aboard their motor 70). The canal, which runs for about 185 miles cruiser Grehan later this year. France from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Md., Local authorities for SNE project is part of the National Park Service. An annual Running the marathon for IWA Only one step short of turning the first sod pass to the park would cost $30 a year. David Edwards-May is preparing to run the of excavation of a new canal is the erection of London Marathon on April 26 to raise funds signs announcing the works. This was done in New York canal leader dies for the Inland Waterways Association (UK), of style by the four départements on the route of John R. Jermano, director of canals for the which he has also been a member for 47 years. the Seine-Nord Europe canal – Nord, Pas-de- New York State Canal Corporation until 1995, IWA invited members to apply to take the place Calais, Somme and Oise – on 3rd February. passed away peacefully on December 19, 2014, offered by the organiser Virgin Money. The chal- The four presidents also signed a binding aged 77. John oversaw the rebirth of New York’s lenge now is to raise up to £5000, which will agreement to see the project through to canals. He had a vision of how to re-energize and help to make essential investments in equip- completion. The four Councils have committed re-brand the canal system that included working ment for the Waterways Recovery Group. To €500 million towards the cost of the canal, closely with the Rideau Canal, the Trent-Severn sponsor David for this event, members are with some funds already released in their 2015 Waterway and Quebec Canals in Canada, and kindly invited to visit the fund-raising page budgets: Nord 40%, Oise 20%, Pas-de-Calais his policy is still followed today. Canals have http://uk.virginmoneygiving/DavidEdwardsMay 26% and Somme 14%. These contributions lost a true friend. from local authorities amount to roughly 10% of the projected cost. The EU share will be 40%. The four départements have been pressing for the project to be completed as a vector for economic development in their regions. Construction will employ between 10 000 and 12 000 workers over a period of 6 years.
Politicians pose beside the new sign 5 WCC Personal impressions on the Milan WCC WCC Ghent rates
lthough China or perhaps Germany can feelings of the various parties taking part in the The programme for the World Canals lay claim to ownership of the first ‘canals’, discussions. On reflection it was very positive Conference, on September 7-10, 2015, AMilan and Leonardo perhaps identify, sign that there is this discussion going on and will be posted on the conference web site for many, as the promoters of the key influ- that many of the citizens of Milan appear to be www.wccghent2015.com by the end ences in the development of European water- engaged. Many of us would like to see the canals of February. Arrangements have been ways. The concept of creating a waterway to come to life again particularly after our cruise in finalised with all partners, and only minor link Milan with the Italian Lakes, and so gain the early evening down the Naviglio Grande to tweaks may now occur. access to the building stone the lakeside quarries experience a classic example of what happens WCC registration rates for the four-day offered , way back in the 1250’s , was a remark- when there are canals with water and boats. The event, from 7-10 September 2015, are able achievement. Likewise Leonardo’s mitre shoreline was lined with restaurants, stores and up to normal lock gate design, with its wicket sluice gates, lots of people. Dave Ballinger July 1st rate has been a key component in the development Thanks to a many enthusiastic Navigli – Standard registration €395 €445 of modern canals both in Europe and the USA. Lombardi specialists and as many presenta- – IWI Members €345 €395 Although the ‘end of conference’ organized walk tions, we learned that canals from the rivers – Spouse/accompanying €250 €275 was not initially included the main conference Ticino and Adda towards the Po River, have Full registration includes technical visits: schedule, it gave the delegates who joined it the historically linked Milan to the Adriatic Sea and boat trip in Port of Ghent (to Terneuzen or opportunity to see for themselves the remains that workers and artisans formerly lived on the Evergem), to Harelbeke and the Westhoek of Milan’s former Ring Canal and, more espe- banks of the Navigli. We were also reminded (Koksijde & In Flanders Fields) plus the cially, Leonardo’s lock itself. The latter offered that the Naviglio Grande, about 50 km long, social programme: boat trip on Ghent’s for me ‘the icing on the cake’. The Conference served as an export and import route. Leonardo inland waterways, welcome dinner, gala programme itself offered a very good overview da Vinci designed locks for the system, and dinner, and lunch in the Koksijde Casino. of the area, which claims to be the ‘birthplace’ of the works of this illustrious man were a thin Payment on line will be possible (except by European waterways, as well as providing stim- blue line throughout the WCC programme. American Express). ulating presentations from a range of speakers Fortunately we had the chance to transpose in The one-day registration fee is : from around the world. Roger Squires our minds the many theoretical lectures into a – standard registration 75 € per day It was very interesting to see and hear the ‘real life’ understanding, with numerous field – IWI members & students 50 € per day very diverse and passionate viewpoints that visits. This all was covered with a sauce of excel- One-day registration does not include the took place during some sessions regarding the lent food and wine of the Regione Lombardia. social programme. See p. 8 the excursions canals around Milan and whether they should The WCC was an excellent invitation to learn designed to offer a full pre-conference and be restored and opened. For delegates it did more about and come back later to this beautiful post-conference tour experience, while provide an insight to the issues and the strong Italian region ! Rudy van der Ween staying in the same hotel in Ghent.
The other Venice revealed throngs of people, seeing the local handicrafts, visiting a small pub-style restaurant, sitting in ell the title should really be the to the Monastery at San Francesco del Deserto, the village square or green space and walking ‘other parts of Venice’, which in many Lio Piccolo with its farms, then on to the villages alongside the mini canals that interlace the Wways is a whole different world that of Torcello, Burano, Murano and Mazzorbo. village. many don’t see or know much about. This All of these site visits would be part of a cruise It is this experience and opportunity that is where our member, architect Francesco on specialized cruise boats that would carry a Francesco and his potential investors want to Calzolaio comes in. For some readers his name limited number of passengers and would have bring to tourists visiting Italy and specifically may sound familiar as he was the guide to those all of the comforts found on a small cruise Venice by taking a 7-day live-aboard cruise, who were on the pre-WCC trip last August ship, including a chef cooking local special- so that they have a broader experience, while through the Venice Lagoon. Amongst his many ties, upgraded accommodation on board and a getting to know Venice in its multiple facets, talents he is a booster of the Venice lagoon and cruise director. Guests would experience being not only the main sites that are shown in the getting tourists out of Venice proper and onto on the water, tying up and seeing the important brochures. If you would like more information the lagoon; exploring its history, way of life and attractions, while at the same time learning how on the lagoon and why Francesco is working on many villages and attractions. this part of the world carries on its day-to-day bringing it to a broader audience in a unique yet Much of the background on the Lagoon can be business by water. It is also a great contrast to conventional way in Lagunalonga, go to www. found in the article in our September newsletter. the monoculture of Venice itself, with the lagoon lagunalonga.it Dave Ballinger However, in attempting to get more visitors out offering more natural settings, of the city proper, Francesco and the associa- aquaculture farming, a more ‘laid- tion ‘Venti di Cultura’ are proposing a series of back’ lifestyle, with intact villages, overnight cruises around the lagoon visiting the undiscovered restaurants and different attractions, villages and sites. Seeing dining opportunities. This would and experiencing how the water is the way of be a wonderful bonus for those transport amongst the villages and the city. who want to have an extended Francesco’s idea is to visit the sites like stay in the Venice area. Imagine Sant’Andrea Fort, which guards the harbour tying up to a wharf for the evening entrance, and the Arsenale which represents the in a small village and being able naval history of the Venetian Republic, then on to wander around unhindered by 6 LETTERs – OPINION
Location of the Finow The inland waterways are ‘bread and butter’ Canal and its 12 for countless individuals and companies in the locks, by-passed by tourism sector, and it is the same for the company the modern Oder- I represent, along with all the other partners in Havel Canal and the the Linssen Boating Holidays network. That’s Niederfinow lifts. The why we had to be there on February 9 ! Dr ‘Langer Trödel’ section Lorenzo Guendel of Puur Yachtcharter, who has of the canal, from the sent many clients cruising on the Finow Kanal, junction to Liebenwalde, will officially represent the 11 partner compa- with another lock that nies of Linssen Boating Holidays as well as has just been restored, Linssen Yachts BV, in support of the continued is to be reopened to maintenance and operation of the historic recreational traffic this Finow Kanal as a premium boating destination year. for our international clientele. Numerous happy Puur guests and Linssen owners have sailed the canal and enjoyed its beauty and rich history. Our organisation including our distribution, service and charter partners throughout Europe Why we should support the Finow Canal has every intention of continuing to promote exciting boating destinations like this. I am Contributions to the ‘threatened canals’ council. No matter what Mr. Ritter or the WSA pleased that IWI will also be represented by our debate (see our feature on page 1), from director said, the council’s nein governed the vice-president David Edwards-May. members Prof. Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert situation. A study of recreational traffic of the Willems- and Peter Linssen. For 2015 the KAG operation with a new team route (a similar canal on the Belgium/Nether- of Job Centre recruits will continue. But the ‘no’ lands border) has demonstrated that the crews hen I became involved in the Finow for us volunteers is permanent. on passing pleasure craft spend as much as €110 Canal in 2011, I was struck by the That’s why our association Unser Finowkanal is per person per day! Local trade thus profits Wnegative position of many officials, promoting the Finowkanal pilotage programme. enormously from the boating community. civil servants and politicians. When they lump In 2014 we accompanied several motor yachts, Every Puur Yachtcharter guest and Linssen the commercially non-viable canals into the passenger vessels and other craft cruising owner visiting the region is welcome potential ‘tertiary’ category, in their minds this means through the canal. for trade and employment! ‘only good for tourism’. Why only? In these What the passengers seem to appreciate is our We hope to be able to contribute to the regions that have lost their traditional indus- tales of the historic facts and anecdotes of the awareness of the economic importance and tries, do we have another economic option? canal and its industrial heritage. tourism potential of the Finow Canal, both the In 2012, I asked Volkmar Ritter of the But to tell the truth, I would rather be working canal itself and the surrounding area with its Eberswalde municipal working group (KAG), as a lock-keeper at the Leesenbrück lock fascinating industrial archæology, seen and who was in charge of the pool of lock-keepers again! Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert experienced from the deck of a pleasure craft. drafted from the unemployed registered at the The preservation and accessibility of sites like job centre, whether I could do some part-time Economics of canals this are extremely important for all of us in the lock-keeping as a volunteer. He was then having inland boating industry and community. to face budget cuts affecting his lock manning s newly appointed member of iwi’s It is our mission to help ‘spread the word’, scheme. And in the background there were council, I would like to draw member’s especially as the difficulties encountered complaints from local authorities funding the Aattention to an upcoming event that I feel by Unser Finowkanal in their campaign are scheme : ‘what do we get in return?’ He talked is important for our common cause. Organised clearly echoed in many parts of the world. to the waterway authority (WSA) director, and by Prof. Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert of the asso- Congratulations to Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert they together managed to get me and a good ciation Unser Finowkanal, the symposium on and his colleagues in Unser Finowkanal for friend of mine, Dr Jürgen Clausnitzer, into threatened waterways (Bedrohte Wasserwege) having lobbied successfully to give this event a some form of a contractual agreement, without will show that several regions in Germany are profile that would have seemed unfeasible not pay of course. threatened by Government funding cuts. long ago. Peter Linssen We did a lot of positive campaigning, made friends with the boaters, told them stories of the Finow Canal, listened to their stories, started a youth project or two and just tried to provide a good service. Many of our unemployed friends liked their job Leesenbrück Lock, the as much as we did. It was a great social experi- fourth down from the ence for the two of us, and as academics it was top, in the village of more of a concern for us to be accepted by our Marienwerder, is where unemployed ‘colleagues’ than the other way Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert around. We were constantly talking to them by and Jürgen Clausmann cordless phone in order to coordinate traffic. were voluntary lock-keepers When we tried to do this again in 2014, we during the 2013 season. were blocked by a strict veto from the WSA staff © Hartmut Ginnow-Merkert 7 iwi tours Brittany, Belgium, Serbia, Belarus? Where next? Treasurer Norman Smith has participated The destinations are located on the small map in several tours since 2012. He introduces a below : Friday 4 Sept – trip to the art city of number of planned tours and suggests how Bruges; Saturday 5 – trip to the river Scheldt they could be packaged to meet the aspira- region; Sunday 6 – trip to the Lille region tions of different categories of members. (France); Friday 11 – trip to the Westhoek (Nieuwpoort)NOORDZEE, Saturday 12 – remain in Ghent ike Reid, to whom I would like to for the Ode Gand event (€35 only because no pay my personal tribute for his transport needed, but on your own for meals work as treasurer for our first 20 and drinks); Sunday 13 – trip to the river Lys years, has regularly described to region (Kortrijk, etc); Monday 14 – trip to the M art city of Antwerp. me the core activity of waterways tours led by founder Ron Oakley, with his wife Joan, from Kortgene 1975. The activity was then part of IWA. David Guerlédan dam and lost canal 4/9 Bruges 14/9 Edwards-May helped to plan the first tour in June 2015 11/9 Westhoek Antwerp Alsace, just a few years after opening of the This is a ‘quick-fix’ tour proposed by David through 12/9 G Albe Transmanche, and will soon be available on line 13/9 rtka Arzviller inclined plane; at that time, works na Lys valley al were also nearing completion at Gambsheim on www.transmanche.net. It may be considered 5/9 Schelde B dam and lock on the Rhine. as a short preview of the CSNYS tour planned in 6/9 L 2016, which Tom surveyed in 2013. This is to take Lille region N se Forty years later, I have personally only experi- Meu enced the most recent tours : the one organised advantage of the complete draining of Guerlédan bre C Sam by Tom Grasso of the Canal Society of New York reservoir for the first time since 1983. The photo State in Belgium in 2012 (with Euromapping), shows a lock cottage exposed the last time the and those organised by David Edwards-May reservoir was drained. That was more than 50 years of Euromapping : SW France in 2013 and Italy after the dam was built. The tour is mainly oriented in 2014. There is no doubt that specialised to the UK market. The programme includes twice Iron Gate revisited visits with presentations by key personalities going down to the bottom of the reservoir to walk Late April, 2016 and engineers make fascinating tours, and the along the old canal, discovering its features, the Krsta Pakšovic has long been dreaming of a company is always very friendly and enter- Blavet valley and a former slate quarry, and many quality tourist product boating through the Iron taining. But what is the future of these tours, other sites of interest. All accompanied by the local Gate; now Aquastar (who also run a hotel at and how could they again produce revenue for Tourist Office, which has a special authorisation to Kladovo) have invested in a comfortable and fast the association? allow members of the public into the bottom of passenger vessel, the Aquastar Maxim, and a I have discussed this with Tom and David, and the reservoir, otherwise forbidden by the regula- 5-day, 4-night tour to the Iron Gate is possible I wonder whether we shouldn’t be thinking of tions! under better conditions than when we cruised two different categories of tour? The economic through part of the famous Danube gorge before perspective of members and participants the WCC in Serbia. Krsta hoped to set this up for from North America suggests the extended this spring, but time was too short. This would programme (11-12 days) as offered by Tom also be an attractively-priced tour, with the first since his first tour in Northern and Eastern and last nights in Belgrade and the other nights France in 2001, but many participants from the in Kladovo. Includes whole-day cruise down the UK and possibly elsewhere in Europe cannot Danube from Belgrade to Tekija (9 hours). Many easily devote as much time to a tour that is new sites visited, including a spectacular view- (a) not so far from home, and (b) may be just point over the gorge. one of several planned in a year. There is also clearly a budget issue, with UK participants (for Ruined lock cottage revealed in 1983 when the reservoir example) unwilling to pay a premium for four- was last drained. star accommodation. I would personally suggest that we organise WCC 2015 tours more frequent ‘quick-fix’, almost ‘cheap-and 4-14 September 2015 cheerful’ tours, using utilitarian accommo- Conference chairs Rudy van der Ween (City of dation, much as Ron Oakley did for all those Ghent) and Philippe Monsieur (NautiV) will years, while longer tours could continue to be have all conference and tour details on line on offered to the mainly North American clients February 20. For advance planning, here is the who need to ‘capitalise’ on the investment in information on the pre- and post-conference Brittany with CSNYS, June 2016 the transatlantic crossing. Tom has in the past excursions. The idea is to book hotel nights This is the tour that remains to be confirmed by attempted to appeal to all, by splitting tours into before and after the conference, staying in Tom Grasso, depending on developments in the modules so that European participants could Ghent, and returning to Ghent each night. coming months. A decision will be taken by the join for one segment. But there have not been Delegates may book as many excursions as summer. The 12-day, 11-night tour will offer a many takers. All options are open, and I would they wish, at a flat rate of €85 per person per complete experience including all major sites be grateful to members for their comments ! day (except for Saturday 12th, €35). The prices on Brittany’s waterways, with accommodation in Preliminary plans for 2015 and the following include coach travel, boat trips, meals and visits, Nantes, Rostrenen and Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes or years are presented here. Norman Smith but drinks are to be paid extra. Rennes (to be confirmed). 8