WHY WATER?
The roads are already over-stretched with cars, lorries and trucks. While some of those vehicles are on overnight or next day deliveries, much of this traffic could be taken by water as part of an integrated transport strategy.
Using barges are a cheaper solution thanks to labour requirements and fuel efficiency. Modern barges can take up to 550 tonnes each in some areas and up to 1,500 tonnes on larger waterways. Even in heavily congested cities, like London, new 85-tonne barges have been purpose-built to reduce congestion.
Many of these waterways run through most urban areas, such as London, Medway, Leeds, Wakefield, Rotherham, Goole, Hull and Immingham. These are key industrial locations where using waterways can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
An environmental benefits study from ASD Metal Services has been completed to demonstrate how inland waterways can make a difference in the modal shift away from the roads.
the inland waterways
There are many sizes and types of waterways in this country from the traditionally sized narrow canal network able to take vessels carrying 25 tonnes to the largest ship canals and tidal estuaries.
In 2002 the Government announced its intention to adopt a water preferred policy, extending the existing policy of using coastal ports to include the use of inland waterways.
The aim of this was to take slow-moving abnormal loads off the road network offering real benefits in terms of reducing disruption and congestion.
Abnormal loads
An abnormal indivisible load means a large or heavy object which is indivisible into smaller parts without undue expense or risk of damage and, when placed on a vehicle, results in the attributes of that vehicle exceeding the normal legal restrictions on maximum vehicle dimensions or weight.
To assist both those that move or have a requirement to move the largest and heaviest Highways England who administer the policy on behalf of the Department for Transport have issued a guidance document which clearly sets out the process that applicants are asked to complete.
Case Studies
There are many sizes and types of waterways in this country from the traditionally sized narrow canal network able to take vessels carrying 25 tonnes to the largest ship canals and tidal estuaries.
