Navigation of the Bata Canal to Kroměříž receives the positive EIA statement20/6/2023|Press releasesThe Regional Authority of the Zlín Region has issued the binding consent opinion on the environmental impact assessment of the projects "Bělov Lock" and "Recreational Port Kroměříž", which extend the navigability of the Bata Canal to Kroměříž, whose investor is the Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic. The design work on these structures can thus continue. Theconsent opinion of the Regional Authority of the Zlín Region contains a series of conditions for implementation, which we consider as feasible and we will incorporate them into the design," said Lubomír Fojtů, director of the investor, the Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic. "The vision of extending the continuous navigability of the Bata Canal by 12 km to the town of Kroměříž is now even more clear and will make the waterway an attractive tourist destination. This will significantly strengthen the attractiveness of the northern part of the Bata Canal for recreational navigation and tourism. I am confident that the upcoming permitting process will be successful and construction work can begin in 2025." The most important conditions of the consent opinion are the implementation of a fish passage on the left bank of the Morava river to limit the impact of interrupting the free migration of animals through the Morava river via the existing Bělov weir, and the implementation of biologically appropriate modifications to the outlet of the Panenský and Novodvorský brooks into the Morava river, the establishment of a new local biocentre Vlčetín between the port and the sports airfield in Kroměříž to compensate for the space occupied by the new port and the bridging of the entry canal to the port of Kroměříž. At the beginning of the waterway extension there is a navigation obstacle: the existing Bělov weir. To make it possible for vessels to cross it, a new lock with utility dimensions of 38.5 x 5.3 x 1.5 m, similar to those of the other locks on the Bata Canal, will be built in close proximity to the right bank pillar, which will allow the passage of vessels up to a maximum size of 20 x 5 m with a draught of 1.2 m. The actual lock will then be connected to the lower and upper dock. The upper dock will be separated from the flow by a concrete wall, which ensures safe entry of vessels into the lock. There will be a waiting area for up to 2 standard vessels along the bank wall. The waiting area will then be connected to a public landing place, which will allow short-term stopping of vessels for boarding and disembarkation of people. In the lower dock, which will also be separated from the riverbed by a 30-metre-long concrete wall, there will be waiting places for up to 3 vessels. At the lower head, the harbour building will also be built, with backrooms for the service of the lock, in the style of "Bata architecture", with masonry made of sharply burnt bricks. The construction of the lock also includes a new bridge over the road that is now running over the weir and the lower head, with a clear passing height for ships of 4.0 m. A large pool harbour is planned near the town of Kroměříž at the confluence of the Morava river and the Kotojedky watercourse, which will provide sufficient harbour infrastructure capacity for recreational vessels in the town. The recreational harbour will have a total capacity of 80 vessels and will provide long-term, medium-term and short-term berths for vessels, even during flow peaks and floods. The pool harbour will be connected to the Morava river by a short navigation channel that is approximately 40 m long. Vessels in the pool harbour will park at floating piers with perpendicular booms, guided by high dolphins. Access to the individual piers will be provided by movable footbridges. The harbour building, offering users a full range of services including sanitary facilities, will be the heart of the harbour. The building will also include facilities for the harbour staff. A 7 m wide slipway and a ship crane will be available for launching vessels onto the waterway. A vertical harbour edge connects directly to the slipway, where a floating service site will be located and where refuelling, refilling of drinking water, electricity and waste water collection will take place. Parking spaces for 74 cars will also be set up in the harbour area. At the top of the new peninsula a "river square" is planned, dominated by a lighthouse, which creates an important orientation element for users of the waterway who come to the harbour on the river, but also for pedestrians coming from the town. The termination of the extended waterway is planned in Kroměříž on Erbenovo nábřeží riverbank, where a new dock will be built on the right bank for short-term berthing of vessels. Its utility length will be 60 metres and will allow for up to 6 vessels. The dock will consist of a fixed pier with several height levels for convenient and safe boarding and disembarkation of passengers. Access to the pier will be provided by a barrier-free pedestrian pavement. The video presentation of the whole project is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l76WBhzmWc . About the Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic The Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic is an organizational unit of the state, established by the Ministry of Transport, which does the the preparation and implementation of construction and modernisation of significant and frequented waterways and other civil structures necessary for navigation. The Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic also operates public ports and harbours and the BESKYDY tugboat. Contact: Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic Ing. Jan Bukovský, Ph.D. Head of Asset Management Department and Operation and European Agenda, Spokesperson E: bukovsky@rvccr.cz T: 225 131 741 M: 602 772 631