In message
Time to bring back commercial narrow boats for really long haul, time no object, transport of bulk materials (e.g. minerals) , say I.
"However, the need for an environmentally and ecologically safe form of transport is slowly being realised. In 1994, 7.05 million tonnes were carried internally on British inland waterways, with a further 54.81 million tonnes being handled on inland waterways by seagoing vessels,* and spare capacity is available on all British commercial waterways. Because of BritainŐs small size, it has been difficult for waterways to compete internally with road transport. The average length of journey within Britain is too short to make inland water transport viable in all but the most advantageous circumstances. But now people are beginning to realise once more that our most useful inland waterways are our coastal waters, estuaries and rivers. Despite their comparatively small size, several British rivers and canals are used regularly by European river-sea ships. Some canals and river navigations could be improved to European standards. However, to finance such improvements, they must be seen as part of an integrated European transport system."
--
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ Voxan Roadster Moto Guzzi Mille GT-Squire RS3 Gilera Nordwest Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C-375 +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
