Multi-criterial Analysis by Determining the Supportability Factor in the Western of the Black Sea

An Eco-Study for a Feasible Project: “Torun and Its Vistula Stretch—An Important Green Navigation Spot on a Blue Inland Waterway”

“…Vistula River, with its length of 1022 km, is an important symbol of Poland (Figures 1 and 2) and Polish identity [18], and it was the most navigable river in Europe four centuries ago [19,20]. It has a high economic potential (hydro-energy, navigation, water supply, and recreation), as well as important ecological functions, and it is the location of several noteworthy cities and industrial centers [18,[21][22][23][24].…”

“…Our opinion is in accordance with previous studies conducted by Bolt and Jerzylo in 2013 [34] and Nones in 2021 [35] who analyzed the navigation conditions of the lower Vistula water infrastructure, focusing on river ports and the inland waterway fleet. Besides these realistic and important results, in late 2018, Anton et al [19] sustained an old (but never put into practice) challenging idea for inland navigation: a connection between the Baltic and the Black Seas using a navigable route along the Vistula-Prut rivers waterway. The inland waterway transportation (IWT) could have a high potential in the Central and Eastern Europe countries with this interior navigation way connecting the Black and Baltic (B-B) seas, gaining a competitive advantage against other modes of transportation, more expensive and with a higher environmental impact.…”

“…Having an inland waterway bridging these two important seas is not a new idea. Since 1926, the Romanian and Polish state authorities have been making "diplomatic efforts to open a new waterway connecting the Prut, Dniester, San and Vistula rivers" [19]. According to the Romanian scientists' project proposal, "navigation on the new waterway will begin at Gdansk in Poland, will continue on the river Vistula, will go on the San River connecting with the Dniester River and finally will continue on the Prut River, going to the Danube, near Galat , i city (Romania)".…”

“…Anton and his colleagues [19] underlined that the total external costs (excluding operating costs) for IWT were the lowest in comparison with the same costs of roads and railways. The scientists also specified that this IWT between the B-B seas could be a very environmentally-friendly means of transport for goods and people, if it is carried out within a certain framework of conditions.…”