WG 141 : Design Guidelines for Inland Waterways

Published

Background

Over the years PIANC and other navigation organizations have researched and published papers and guidance on the design of inland waterway channels. Information identified in the past has related to the size of fairways, sweep of bends, lock and bridge approaches and size of bridge openings. With the development in new technologies and the development of new waterways, it is essential that this information is reviewed and presented in a comprehensive publication to aid designers and operators in their preliminary tasks.

Objective of the Working Group

To undertake a review of current papers, data sources, current research and experience relating to the design of inland waterways and prepare a PIANC publication giving guidelines to aid designers, developers and operators of proposed and existing inland waterways.

Final Product

The intent will be to provide a summary of current guidance on the hydraulic design of fairways, approach channels and structures to provide advice to designers etc in order to identify if current standards for the specification of channels and navigation structures in both rivers and canals can be derived at an international level.

A technical brief will be provided to aid the promotion of the document and to be placed on the PIANC website

Matters to be Investigated

The report will consider all the major issues associated with the dimensional constraints associated with the passage of vessels along river or canal channels for both commercial and leisure use. It will review dimensional issues associated with visibility, current, windage, cross

flows, speed of vessels etc. It is intended that the Working Group should consider the actual dimensions of vessels as determined by already agreed standards such as CEMT, UNECE,

USACE, to formulate channel and infrastructure dimensions. It should consider the use of single and two way working of channels associated with density and supervision of traffic which will promote the economic development of waterways that are marginal either in terms of size or use. Current research and papers dealing with Climate Change and the minimization

of the environmental impact of vessels on a channel ecosystem must also be considered in the review of channel dimensions. Reference to mitigation measures for flood and drought should be considered if at all possible although it is recognized that there is considerable ongoing research which may preclude any conclusions being drawn at the current time.

Reference to all current and relevant PIANC reports is essential. Special attention is drawn to MarCom WG 49 and its report upon the horizontal and vertical dimensions of fairways. Many countries publish design guidelines and the Working Group should avail themselves of this documentation to assist with the preparation of the review process.

Desirable Background or Experience of Working Group Members.

The background and experience may include the following:

a. Operators and managers of existing waterways

b. Consultants and navigation engineers

c. Vessel owners and operators

d. Representatives of regulatory bodies

e. Promoters of improvement or new navigation schemes

Relevance for Countries in Transition

The results will help to designers and promoters of new or existing navigations throughout the world and provide guidance to develop and operate safe and economically viable waterways.

 

List of Members

Germany

Bernhard Söhngen (Chair)

Katja Rettemeier

Eckard Schmidt

Belgium

Matthieu Bogaert

Katrien Eloot

Sara De Troeyer

USA

Elizabeth C. Burg

Charles E. Wiggins

France

Yvan Cordier

Rémy Gasset

Jean-Marc Deplaix

Alain Lecerf

Pierre-Jean Pompée

China

Cai Dafu

Lan Ji

United Arab Emirates

Claudia Giarruso

Ibrahim Juma

Spain

Jose R. Iribarren

Ismael Verdugo Segovia

The Netherlands

Otto C. Koedijk

Kees Roelse

 

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 Tasks according to the Terms of Reference

1.3 Differences to MARCOM 49 approach

1.4 General approach in waterway design

1.5 Contribution of the guidelines to the planning process of a waterway

1.6 Guide notes to the reader of the report

1.7 Definitions and designations

2 Technical Information

2.1 Classification of commercial vessels for waterway design

2.2 Design-relevant properties of waterway types

2.3 Design-relevant aspects of the driving dynamics of inland vessels and ship-induced impacts

2.4 Design-relevant boundary conditions

2.5 Definition and clarification of design case and data needed

3 Appropriate Assessment Of Safety And Ease Quality And Its Usage For Design

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Simplified safety and ease approach supporting concept design

3.3 Detailed safety and ease approach supporting detailed design

4 Recommended Steps In Waterway Design

4.1 Introduction to the three design methods

4.2 Definition and aim of the Concept Design method

4.3 Practice Approach – using existing examples

4.4 Detailed Or Case-By-Case Design

5 Recommendations For Special Design Aspects

5.1 General remarks and guide notes how to use the recommendations in chapter 5

5.2 Canal fairway width and cross section

5.3 Fairway Widths in rivers

5.4 Width and head clearance of bridge openings

5.5 Length and widths of lock approaches

5.6 Junctions and turning basins

5.7 Berthing places and waiting areas

6 Conclusions

Appendices

7 Appendix 1: Summary On Existing Guidelines

7.1 Preliminary remarks to existing guidelines

7.2 Belgium Guidelines

7.3 Chinese Guidelines

7.4 Dutch Guidelines

7.5 French Guidelines

7.6 German Guidelines

7.7 Russian Guidelines

7.8 US Guidelines

8 Appendix 2: Dimensions Of Existing Waterways – Practice

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Fairway width in rivers

8.3 Lock approaches: lengths and widths

8.4 Bridge openings

9 Appendix 3: Appropriate Assessment Of Safety And Ease Quality And Its Usage For Design

9.1 How to use the approach

9.2 Simplified safety and ease approach for design

9.3 Detailed safety and ease approach

9.4 Further examples of assessing the safety & ease quality

10 Appendix 4: Detailed Or Case By Case Design – Using Simulation Techniques Or Field investigations

10.1 Preliminary remarks and definition

10.2 General remarks for simulation techniques

10.3 Influence of human factor for ship handling simulators

10.4 General approach in using fast time and full bridge simulators for designing waterways

11 Appendix 5: Extra Width And Safety Distances Used From Baw

12 Appendix 6: Application Of The Guidelines To Examples

13 Appendix 7: Review On Meetings With Decisions

14 Appendix 9: General References