SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

11 - Trade and transport12.2 Some environmental and socio-economic benefits of water transportationThe considerable environmental and social benefits which can be derived from the use of inlandwater transportation, as opposed to other forms of transportation (e.g. road transport) can besummarised as follows:• IWT transportation operates in a waterway environment that has few junctions whichtends to reduce both the number and severity of accidents.• The environment of the waterway system often places more distance between vessels andthe surrounding population and property than is the case with either truck or rail transport.• Inland waterways, unlike road and rail networks, require lower initial investment and loweron-going costs for maintenance.• Because of their much greater capacity, IWT with large barges, requires far fewer unitsthan either rail or truck transport to move an equivalent amount of cargo. Barges thushave proportionately fewer accidents and burn less fuel in carrying the same volume ofcargo.• For remote communities near waterways, IWT is usually less expensive and lessenvironmentally damaging than extension of roads to these areas.In remote areas, waterway transport helpsproducers get their goods to market241