(1972) as the standard barge for waterways of international importance,
together with the recommendation that class IV to class VI waterways
should be designated according to the number and arrangement of these
barges in pushed trains (Fig. 11.1). Further modifications in the European
classification took account also of the plan configuration in the push barge
systems, their draught and bridge clearances (ECE, 1992).
11.2.2 Some waterways
(a) UK waterways
Although the building of inland waterways in the UK was in the forefront
of European development in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the English
canals fell into disuse towards the close of the 19th and in the first half of
the 20th century, mainly because of the rapid development of rail and road
links joining inland industrial centres to the coastal ports.
The past 30 years or so, however, have seen a renaissance in the use of
inland waterways, as their role in water resources management, the provision
of modern recreational facilities, and enhancement of the environment, quite
apart from their commercial value, has become more widely appreciated.
The total length of usable inland waterways in the UK amounts to
almost 4000 km. The more important inland waterways are those connected
to the estuaries and the rivers Mersey, Severn, Thames and Humber.
The major UK canal is undoubtedly the Manchester Ship Canal, con-
structed between 1887 and 1893, which has parameters in class VI (Section
11.2.1). It is 58 km long, 36.5 m wide (bottom) and 8.5 m deep; its five locks
can take vessels of up to 12 000 tons. The Avon is navigable to Bristol for a
capacity of up to 5000 tons (also class VI). Examples of some other major
inland waterways (other than estuaries) of class III are the Gloucester
Ship Canal, the Weaver up to Northwick, the Ouse to Selby and the Tay to
Perth. The Trent up to Newark falls into class II.
464 INLAND WATERWAYS
Fig. 11.1 Push trains used on European waterways (Cˇábelka and
Gabriel, 1985)
