Possibilities of inland waterway transport development on the Lower Vistula River from 2020–2030, considering River Basin Management Plans

The Lower Vistula River is a Polish part of inland waterways E40 that has a comparatively low waterway class (Ib – III; excluding Wloclawek Reservoir part – Va), and projects and works should be undertaken to improve the waterway class conditions. This also depends upon the ratification of the AGN agreement by Poland, which obliges the country to adapt the main waterways to at least the fourth class of navigability. A catalog of investment activities must contain environmental objectives due to the inclusion of Lower Vistula River in the Natura 2000 protected areas network. This research includes an analysis of the impact on the inland waterway transport of the investments included in the Vistula River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). These documents make it possible to rationally manage water resources (also in the waterway transport) and indicate actions aimed at maintaining them for future generations. Therefore, in line with the Water Framework Directive recommendations, all planned investments should have a minimal environmental impact. In the coming years, large-scale infrastructure investments are planned, which will allow the waterway transport conditions to be improved and the environmental goals of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to be achieved.