The Government discussed the Concept of Water Transport – for the 1st time ever it is being prepared25/9/2017|Press releasesWater transport will have a uniform concept for the first time ever in the Czech Republic. The Ministry of Transport presented the Concept of Water Transport document for the period 2016-2023 on Monday at the government meeting. The material details the national strategic document Transport Policy of the Czech Republic for 2014-2020 with prospects until 2050. It defines the prerequisites for further development of water transport and at the same time declares what the state must do in the field of transportation regarding the development of inland routes, safety, sustainable development, the economy and the environment. The government acknowledged the material. Water transport has a relatively low impact on the environment and at the same time it consumes little energy. These are the main reasons why it is necessary to look into the possibilities of utilising its potential also in the Czech Republic. Given the fact that freight transport has a very low share in freight transport in the Czech Republic, the main objective of the Concept is to create conditions for greater use while reducing its impact on the environment. "The document is focused on major waterways. We are planning to remove non-navigable sections of waterways that interrupt the existing network and want to connect them to attractive transportation destinations. At the same time we assume that the Vltava and Labe waterways will be extended to 338 kilometres", says the Transport Minister Dan Ťok. Besides the waterway infrastructure, the Concept focuses on increasing the potential of water transport in freight, passenger and recreational transportation. It concentrates on the maintenance of waterways, the development of a network of ports and docks. And last but not least, it also deals with regular modernisation of vessels, because water transport is also the source of emissions of harmful substances and pollutants from combustion engines. Water transport belongs to the cheapest and most environmentally friendly modes of transport. Contrary to other transportation fields in the Czech Republic, it has never had its own concept of development where priorities and objectives would be set across government resorts. The government acknowledges the material and imposed new tasks to the transportation and environment resorts. These are connected, among other things, with the definition of compensatory measures for the construction of the Děčín waterway section.