Trends in the development of European inland freight transport

The article presents a selection of topics concerning inland freight transport. It is part of the European transport system that holds different places in the transport system of every country. At the same time it is an element of their water management system. Therefore, the development of inland shipping is influenced by two key factors. The first one is the adjusted natural water system, which as a linear system, enables freight transport. The second factor is water management policy, which takes into account inland shipping in the water resources management. In many European countries, especially in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Rumania, barge freight transport is a part of these two systems. Inland shipping in the European overland transport engages in approximately 6.5% of the transport activity by carrying dry, liquid, general and containerized bulk cargo. It is of significant importance to the international cargo transport in many European countries – adjusting techniques and organization of transport to constantly changing requirements of the shippers, which results from the shift in the industry structure in Europe. It is no longer associated with transport of coal and iron are only, although they still make the primary freight in inland shipping. The ro-ro barges carry containerized and palletized cargo and are components of the multimodal transport chains.