Z. Wang
Chinese Inland Waterway Transportation
Literature survey,
Report 2004.TL.6801, Transport Engineering and Logistics.
Inland waterway transportation (IWT) has been recognized as an important
way for distributing goods. From the advantage viewpoint, it offers
competitive rates, is environmentally friendly and congestion free,
consumes relatively less energy, and is less costly to build. It also makes
the transportation of hazardous freight and large-size cargoes and heavy
lift cargoes easier. Alternatively, there is a longer transit time and lower
reliability of service effected by weather conditions, water level, port's
conditions, etc..
China is the largest country in the world in population. Since the
implementation of reform and open policy in the early 80s, Chinese economy
has experienced a dramatic growth in more than 20 years and is stili
believed to be able to keep growing stably in years. The booming economy
results in correspondent transportation development in terms of increasing
capacity, improving efficiency and effectiveness, and rising
competitiveness, etc.. Although Chinese government has invested a huge
amount of money in transportation field, the development of transportation
still lags behind the development of economy. Fortunately, the government
is well aware of the situation and is constructing or planning many
transportation projects in order to improve the nationwide transportation
network as quickly as possible.
Having the second longest river system in the world, Chinese IWT has
enormous space to utilize and develop. By now, IWT is mainly taken place in
the Yangtze River, the Pearl River and the Grand Canal. Lacking
recognition and investment, most rivers have never been channelized and
upgraded and still stay in natural condition. Lots of dams and hydraulic
facilities have no ship locks or lifts for transportation purposes. The
facilities in the ports are in poor condition and the operation and management
of ports are still under an elementary level as well. Anyway, although Chinese
IWT is confronting many problems, the future is certainly bright.
Reports on Transport Engineering and Logistics (in Dutch)
Modified: 2004.09.23;
logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl
, TU Delft
/ 3mE
/ TT
/ LT.