Limited navigational sections at Slapy during summer holidays

28/4/2021Press releases

This July and August, the navigation traffic at Slapy will be limited. Because the State Navigation Administration expects increased traffic and wants to protect swimmers and smaller vessels, it decided to implement a so-called discharge navigation system on a half of Slapy Reservoir. The motorboats will be forced to slow down in certain parts instead of floating on the surface. Based on recommendations from the police and rescue guards, the State Navigation Administration discussed the planned change with relevant municipalities and individual associations.

Limited navigational sections at Slapy during summer holidays

“Last year, we have seen greater interest in navigation and other leisure activities at Slapy, mainly due to limited options for travelling abroad. This year, we expect the same interest, unfortunately, the capacity at Slapy is limited. To protect vulnerable users of navigational traffic, it is necessary to implement a discharge navigational system, which is much slower than the current system”, said Klára Němcová, the director of the State Navigation Administration. The Waterway Police and the Water Rescue Service also recommends slowing down of the vessels.

After discussions with various user groups, the new navigational system will be used from 1 July until 31 August 2021 on river km 91.70 to 118.00. At the same time, the State Navigation Administration along with Povodí Vltavy (state enterprise) will set 14 safe swimming zones with banned access for boats. There will be also a zone for water skiing and aerobatic navigation of water scooters and jetboards.

After the season is over, the traffic will be carefully assessed and discussed with traffic users at Slapy.

The number of navigation accidents increased in 2020 to 35, compared to 2019 with 12 accidents. At Slapy, there were 6 accidents in 2020; one was severe with casualties. Minister Havlíček continues in his efforts to prevent accidents from happening. “We need to realize that such a huge number of people that we expect this year at Slapy cannot fit to the reservoir. I would like to call on mutual understanding and common sense so that everyone can enjoy summer at Slapy without accidents. I do apologise to those who will be affected by the restrictions,” said Mr Havlíček.

The total mooring capacity for small vessels, which must be registered at Slapy, is 2,764 out of which 91%, i.e. 2,508 vessels, are permanently parked in the section that is subject of transport measures, especially during individual mooring and in four harbours. For comparison, in the remaining section from river km 118.00 to 134.73 (lock-chamber Kamýk) only 256 registered vessels are moored.

Even though Orlík Reservoir is wider than Slapy Reservoir by third, the total mooring capacity for small vessels, which must be registered, is lower by half (only 1,401 vessels). “1 river km of a significantly wider Orlík Reservoir accounts on average for 25 parked vessels, whereas at Slapy Reservoir it is 64 vessel, i.e. by 2.5 times more. In the section, which is subject of restriction, there is 96 vessel parked on 1 river km. It is not only the question of the amount of registered vessels, but also of the number of other leisure activities, swimming, paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, fishing and a number of permanently moored houseboats”, explains Ms Němcová.

Between 2015 and the end of 2020, the number of registered small vessels in the Czech Republic increased by 4,571, which is by more than 30% compared to the end of 2014. From this amount, the number of registered vessels in Prague area, which includes also Slapy Reservoir, amounts to 3,094, i.e. two-thirds of newly registered vessels.