Problems and prospects for the development of inland water transport in Europe

There are approximately 623,000 kilometers of navigable waterways in the world. Navigable waterways in Europe account for 8% of the world's length. The demand for water transport continues to grow every year. Europe has set a goal to convert all transport to environmentally friendly fuels with zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Inland waterway transport is the most efficient, consuming only 17% of energy compared to trucks. The development of water transport requires investment in the creation of appropriate infrastructure. Inland waterway transport, despite its many environmental benefits, cannot provide sufficient demand in the face of competition with other modes of inland transport and requires greater political attention and government support for its future development. Maintaining close connections between seaports and inland ports through all three main modes of transport is of great importance for the smooth operation of ports. When managing risks in ports, the uncertainty associated with climate change should be taken into account. It is necessary to create an intelligent water transport network. It is necessary to modernize the river fleet, taking into account the development of new technologies.