The World Canals Conference reverted to an on-site event in June 2024 after an on-line version in 2023. The event was based in Bydgoszcz in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region of Poland, where the Rivers Brda and Wisła (Vistula) meet, along with the old and new Bydgoszcz Canals.
Inland waterways can play a pivotal role in the EU’s efforts to decarbonise the transport system, according to the Council of the European Union. In December 2022, the Council voted to approve the conclusions of the NAIADES III report on ‘Ongoing development of inland waterways transport’.
IWI is a member go the ‘Think Climate’ coalition under the auspices of PIANC (The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure), working on a far-reaching initiative Navigating a Changing Climate.
A milestone in development of the European waterway network for 3000-tonne barges and push-tows was marked on Tuesday 4 October when the 36m-high Niederfinow shiplift was officially opened, on the Havel-Oder Canal.
The first vessel to pass through the new lift, with its striking architecture, was the Waterway Authority’s icebreaker Frankfurt. Barges and tankers up to 115m long can now transport cargoes between the Polish port of Szceczin and Berlin and beyond.
When we visited the site in May 2022, before attending the World Canals Conference in Leipzig, we saw that even a single-barge Polish push-tow had to split to pass through the original lift, opened in 1933, with its usable length of only 83.50m.
The World Canals Conference reverted to an on-site event in June 2024 after an on-line version in 2023. The event was based in Bydgoszcz in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region of Poland, where the Rivers Brda and Wisła (Vistula) meet, along with the old and new Bydgoszcz Canals.
Following COVID disruption to the planned WCC schedule, there was no in-person conference in 2023. In its place, IWI hosted a series of webinars covering important waterways issues presented by experts from all over the world. The topics covered included working with partners (including volunteer organisations) to manage canals, what makes China’s Lingqu Canal unique, different approaches to regenerating canals, how inland waterways boating can
The World Canals Conference, held in Inverness, Scotland, from September 19th to 22nd 2022, was one of the most successful ever, judging by the reactions of more than 300 participants. The event, organised by Scottish Canals, was based around Eden Court Theatre situated on the banks of the River Ness, with an extensive range of presentations and seminars over the four days as well as
World Canals as a Refocus for Regeneration The World Canals Conference returned to Europe in 2022. Planned for 2020, the WCC arrived in Leipzig, Germany, this year, from 30 May to 3 June. The conference brought together waterways professionals, engineers, experts and politicians. Inland Waterways International (IWI) President Rudy Van der Ween opened the conference after a greeting from Dr Bettina Hoffman, Federal Minister of
Annual General Meeting by videoconference, October 9, 2020 Dear David, members of the IWI Council (and of the General Assembly) I cannot hide the pride that I was nominated to serve as President of Inland Waterways International for the next three years. And with equal pleasure I would like to accept this personal challenge! It would have been even more pleasant to be able to share this appointment with you in
The World Canals Conference at Yangzhou in China, on September 26-28, focused on the heritage potential of canals, and their role in regeneration and renewal. At 1863 km long and 2500 years old, the Grand Canal breaks all canal records and puts European waterways in the shade. The WCC was held in Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province on the banks of the Grand Canal near its
IWI has established itself as a ‘place to be’ at the world’s biggest boat show, BOOT Düsseldorf, thanks to the generous conditions offered by Messe Düsseldorf. The prototype of our dedicated Inland Waterways Pavilion was set up and staffed by Council members from January 19-28, 2018, with results that augur well for even greater impact at next year’s event, when we expect to have up
The recent World Canals Conference in Syracuse, NY, was a great success, with more than 350 delegates from 12 countries. I took part in a pre-conference ‘Tour the Towpath‘ cycling rally on September 23-24, followed by IWI’s Annual General Meeting on the Sunday evening, then the four-day conference. There is so much to learn at this annual gathering of waterway authorities and professionals in so
We are sad to announce that Carol Manchester, an active IWI member for many years, died in Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Monday, February 6, 2017 at the age of 78. She worked for many years at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and Corrections Canada before retiring to work in her garden and paint, also taking part, with her husband Keith Manchester, in conservation
Member Navigli Lombardi is hosting the 27th World Canals Conference in Milan on September 1-4. Sign up for the Conference and the pre- and post-conference tours. Also read background news and features on our Blog. The conference/tours page of Euromapping’s on-line shop may also now be used to register for the conference, by agreement with the host organisation, with a discounted fee for current IWI
The 27th World Canals Conference is to be held in Italy for the first time, and will be based in one of the ‘birthplaces’ of European canals: Milan, from Monday 1st to Thursday 4th September 2014. The public agency for development of Milan’s canals, Navigli Lombardi, is putting together a conference that will be both informative and spectacular. Aware of the importance of the event,
Corporate member the Foreign Affairs Bureau of Yangzhou invites international and national delegates to the first edition of the annual World Canals Conference to be held in Asia, on September 25-27. See on our WCC page a brief introduction to some highlights during the 3-day event. IWI’s AGM will be held on Tuesday morning September 25th at 9:00.