news July 2017 Periodic information bulletin for members of Inland Waterways International published in UK at Ingles Manor, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2RD CZECH REPUBLIC Upper Vltava navigation inaugurated in May A project supported by IWI since its study tour to Southern Bohemia and Saxony in April 2011 has finally been completed, with the opening of Hněvkovice lock on the river Vltava on May 20th. News editor Tomáš Kolařík reports. n May 20th the last missing navi- gation lock on the Vltava waterway was Ofinished in the village of Hněvkovice. The lock was built to remarkably generous dimensions for a recreational waterway; it could accommodate barges of up to 45 x 6 m. This is a measure of how Czech waterway authorities and engineers are keeping all bets open for possible future commercial naviga- tion. High-capacity passenger vessels and large motor yachts can now ply the river from Orlík View of the crowd attending the inauguration and a dam upstream to České Budějovice, a distance throughout the Vltava from the Elbe via Prague. small passenger boat in the lock. © ŘVCČR of 95 km. Smaller boats up to 3 m beam, 3 m air The opening of Hněvkovice lock was the draught and 3.5 tonnes displacement can sail final phase of the project officially started in First, there is a need to rebuild one of the 2008. Completing the ‘missing link’ to České bridges in the small town of Týn nad Vltavou The lock and its stylish control centre are reached by Budějovice meant building four locks, two as a lift-bridge. The second project – already a bridge over the channel built for migrating fish and marinas and many landing places, for a total in preparation – involves building the unfin- canoes. © ŘEDITELSTVÍ VODNÍCH CEST ČR cost of around €62 million. Thousands of ished 300-tonne boat lifts at Orlík and Slapy citizens, the minister of transport Dan Ťok dams. and many boats attended the passage of Construction of the lift at Orlík could start in the first boats through the lock. The flotilla 2020. The final cherry on the cake would be then continued to České Budějov ice, where an additional lock in České Budějovice, as we it arrived on May 21 to be welcomed by recommended during our 2011 visit, to give Lord Mayor and other guests. Although this visiting boats the possibility of mooring in the significant milestone has been achieved, historic city centre. a lot remains to be done to make the Vltava We look forward to Southern Bohemia waterway fully accessible to larger craft. becoming the next sought-after destination for cruising holidays ! TOM KOLAŘÍK GERMANY Local councils refuse takeover from state CHANGE IN THE POLICY APPLIED by the Federal The department is led by Jochen Kies (who Government is welcomed by players in attended the WCC 2009 in Serbia). A the waterway tourism sector throughout This leaves intact the issue of local authori- Germany. ties stepping up to the plate and accepting new The ‘water tourism concept’ has been clarified, responsibilities in operation and maintenance of and after receiving a barrage of criticism and these (supposedly) conceded waterways. protests formally presented at the Reichstag in Although a short-term solution has again been Berlin, Government officials have been at pains agreed to ensure that the Finow Canal opened to stress that they will facilitate the maintenance this year in early May, as in previous years, Unser of navigability on the threatened waterways. Finowkanal reports that negotiations between To this effect they have even set up a specific the local authority grouping (KAG) and the department within the ministry to manage all the Federal Government suffered a severe setback secondary waterways (Nebenwasserstraßen). [continued p. 4] 1 INLAND WATERWAYS INTERNATIONAL New secretary Di Harris A seminar Towards a Global Network of On the upcoming WCC, Sharon Leighton Welcome to Di Harris! IWI’s Water Museums – a common heritage for thanked Council members for their assistance new Secretary and Editor of a sustainable future held in Venice under the in identifying speakers and commenting on our magazine and newsletter aegis of UNESCO, was attended by delegate Edo abstracts. She advised that acceptance of will also perform the tasks of Bricchetti and the association ONLUS Civiltà international speakers had been sent out, membership secretary. She dell’Acqua on May 2-4. It was also attended by noting that there had been 100 abstracts succeeds Dave MacDougall, delegates from the WCCO in China. Since then received for 48 speaking spots. who kindly continued to it has been decided to set up an international Dave Ballinger reported on the WCC status assist Council with secretarial tasks until his association of water museums, coordinated for the coming years. Leipzig had unfortu- replacement was recruited. We first met Di at by Edo and the Ecomuseum of the Naviglio nately been unable to confirm hosting in 2019. the WCC in Liverpool, while she and her Martesana. Yangzhou China had expressed interest (see partner Bob Naylor (co-editor) attended the A meeting of the World Historic and Cultural below). Leipzig may re-submit for a future date. Toulouse conference as invited journalists, Canal Cities Cooperation Organization Council will again meet in early July, to make writing for the UK specialist press. Di, a (WCCO), combined with the opening of the a decision on the projected presence at BOOT biochemist by training, has had a successful Jianghuai Ecological Corridor in Yangzhou, was Düsseldorf in January 2018. management career in publishing, radio and attended by David Edwards-May and Dave the voluntary sector. She has worked as a Ballinger on April 19. At this event David and WCC 2019 to be hosted in Yangzhou freelance journalist since 1988, carrying out five others were appointed Special Advisers The World Canal Cities Organisation based in projects that cover all areas of publishing, to the organisation, joining Dave and the Yangzhou has obtained the support of the research and development. Residents of the other earlier appointees. The next meeting is Municipal Government for hosting the World Devizes area in Wiltshire, UK, Di and Bob regu- planned in early September, when the organi- Canals Conference in 2019. larly travel to France as a members of Les sation will present a new publication: a World Amis du Canal du Nivernais. Canals Directory. The DBA 25th anniversary rally was held AGM September 24, 2017 IWI participation in events in Auxerre on June 15-18, and IWI was repre- Notice is given to members that the asso- A quick run through events attended by IWI’s sented by its president and secretary. ciation’s Annual General Meeting will be officers and delegates throughout the world A full meeting of the WCCO, combined with held at the WCC conference venue, Marriott gives an idea of the enormous scope of our the annual world canal cities forum, will take Downtown Syracuse, 100 E Onondaga St, on activities and depth of our involvement. A place in Yangzhou on September 8. Sunday 24 September at 6 to 8 p.m. sample of events in recent months is followed This is followed by our annual World Canals by a list of some upcoming events. Conference in Syracuse, NY, including our The Panama Canal enlargement inaugura- AGM on September 24, 2017 (see announce- tion in September 2016 was attended by news ment right, and p. 5). Welcome to new members editor Tom Kolařík (see p. 6). Corporate The kick-off meeting of the EU Baltic Sea Council meeting April 25, 2017 Afmitech Friesland Netherlands Region project EMMA, designed to enhance Council met to discuss ongoing campaigns B-MAR Marine Insurance Belgium inland navigation, was held in Warsaw on and internal organisation, which although less Carrick Craft Ireland November 22, 2016. newsworthy inevitably takes up a lot of time Státni Plavební Správa – Reditelství Czech Rep. PIANC’s conference on Navigating a and accounts for many agenda items. Individual Changing Climate was attended by presi- A key item was ‘growing the association’. Robert Cassetti USA dent David Edwards-May on March 27-28 in An outline plan was presented by Peter Stacy Daniels USA Brussels (see presentation summary, p. 6) Linssen, based on a new concept for an Inland Dan De Rusha USA Waterways Pavilion at the world’s biggest boat Otto Edinger Germany show, BOOT, in Düsseldorf, in late January each Steve Gibbs USA year. The concept was to be researched and Josh Repp USA costed, and a decision would be taken during Elizabeth Rooks USA the summer. Snežana Štetić Serbia There was discussion of the suggestion by key corporate members that a more business- IWI Newsletter is a digital document distrib- oriented approach should be adopted in the uted to members by e-mail every few months. future. The question remains open, pending A print-out is available on request for members receipt of detailed suggestions. who do not have e-mail. The magazine World Other items are reported elsewhere: the Wide Waterways continues to appear separ ately. World Canal Cities Organisation and its Editors: Di Harris, Bob Naylor proposed partnership with IWI, and the tour to News editor: Tomáš Kolařík the Middle Danube and Iron Gate, in Hungary [email protected] and Serbia (report p. 8). Tel. +44 7711 367124 (English) +420 725 793793 (Czech) Please note that comments and opinions expressed Container push-tow heading upstream through the in IWI’s publications are those of the authors, Small Kazan gorge, seen from the viewpoint accessed by named or other wise, and do not necessarily reflect trail in the Iron Gate National Park, on May 13.