Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Inland waterway transport statistics provides information on the volume and performance of freight transport on EU inland waterway network. They are reported on the basis of the "territoriality principle" which means that each country reports the loading, unloading and movements of goods that take place on its national territory, irrespective of country of origins of undertakings or place of first loading and final unloading.
The full data provision obligation includes:
annually: goods transport by type of goods, by nationality of vessels and by type of vessel as well as container transport by type of goods;
quarterly: goods and container transport by nationality of vessels.
In addition, the legislation foresees voluntary annual data on vessel traffic. Voluntary annual data on the transport of dangerous goods and the number of accidents has been agreed with the reporting countries.
In summary, the statistics transmitted to Eurostat on inland waterway transport:
Transport of goods (annual and quarterly mandatory data provision);
Vessel traffic (annual voluntary data provision);
Transport of dangerous goods (annual voluntary data provision)
Number of accidents (annual voluntary data provision).
3.2. Classification system
Country and NUTS codes
Territorial units like reporting country and regions for loading/unloading are coded according to NUTS classification for those units covered by NUTS Regulation and to ISO 3166 for the rest (e.g. territorial units outside EU). The used version of NUTS always corresponds to the version in use and no conversion to previous version is required. For instance, NUTS 2006 is used for 2008 to 2011 data, NUTS 2010 for 2012 to 2014 data, NUTS 2013 for 2015 to 2017 and NUTS 2016 for 2018 until next NUTS Regulation.
The level of detail is either NUTS0 – for reporting country – or NUTS2 (basic regions, 4 digits) – for regions. When using ISO 3166 and 4-digits level coding is required (e.g. for regions outside EU), the two-digit ISO code followed by “ZZ” is used.
Goods classification
Prior to 2007, the types of goods reported as being transported by inland waterways were those defined by NST/R (Standard Goods for Transport Statistics). In 2007 only, the type of goods has been reported according either to the NST-2000 classification or to the NST/R classification. From 2008 onwards, only the NST2007 classification is valid as set out in Commission Regulation 1304/2007 amending Regulation 1365/2006 with respect to the establishment of NST2007 as the unique classification for transported goods in certain transport modes.
Dangerous goods are classified according to the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN). The classes are the following:
ClassDenomination
1Explosive substances and articles 2Gases 3Flammable liquids 4.1Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitised explosives 4.2Substances liable to spontaneous combustion 4.3Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases 5.1Oxidising substances 5.2Organic peroxides 6.1Toxic substances 6.2Infectious substances 7Radioactive material 8Corrosive substances 9Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
3.3. Coverage - sector
Carriers engaged in passenger and goods transport by inland waterways, whose activities according to NACE Rev.2 belongs to groups 50.3 and 50.4 of section H.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The definitions covering the main concepts used in this domain are included in Article 1 and Annex II to Regulation 425/2007. The main definitions are as follows:
Navigable inland waterway: A watercourse, no part of the sea, which by natural or man-made features is suitable for navigation, primarily by inland waterway vessels. This term covers navigable rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries.
Inland waterway vessel: A floating craft designed for the carriage of goods or public transport of passengers, which navigates predominantly in navigable inland waterways or in waters within, or closely adjacent to sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply.
Nationality of the vessel: The country in which the vessel is registered.
Inland waterways transport: Any movement of goods using inland waterways vessels, which is undertaken wholly or partly in navigable inland waterways.
National inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport between two ports of a national territory irrespective of the nationality of the vessel.
International inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport between two ports located in different national territories.
Transit inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport through a national territory between two ports both located in another national territory or national territories provided that in the total journey within the national territory there is no trans-shipment.
Inland movement: any movement of goods and/or passengers to and from inland ports connected by water routes which may be made navigable by one or more lock structures.
Inland waterways traffic: Any movement of a vessel on a given navigable inland waterway.
Types of vessels:
Self-propelled barge. Any powered inland waterways freight vessel, other than self-propelled tanker barges.
Barge not self-propelled. Any unpowered inland waterways freight vessel, other than not self-propelled tanker barges. This category includes towed, pushed and pushed-towed barges.
Self-propelled tanker barge. A self-propelled barge intended for the transport of liquids or gases in fixed tanks.
Tanker barge not self-propelled. A barge not self-propelled intended for the transport of liquids or gases in fixed tanks.
Other goods carrying vessel. Any other known or unknown kind of inland waterways freight vessel intended for carrying goods not defined in the previous categories.
Seagoing vessel. A vessel other than those, which navigate predominantly in navigable inland waterways or in waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply.
Containers: A freight container means an article of transport equipment:
1. of a permanent nature and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;
2. specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading;
3. fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to another;
4. so designed as to be easy to fill and empty;
5. having a length of 20 feet or more.
The size of containers is reported according to four categories:
1) 20 Foot ISO containers (length of 20 feet and width of 8 feet)
2) 40 Foot ISO containers (length of 40 feet and width of 8 feet)
3) ISO containers over 20 feet and under 40 feet in length
4) ISO containers over 40 feet long
Containers smaller than 20 feet are reported under Category 1.
Containers of unknown size are reported under Category 3.
Inland waterways accidents: specific, identifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external event caused by, or in connection with, the operation of an inland waterways vessel resulting in an inland waterways casualty or incident which occurs at a particular time and place, without apparent cause but with marked effect.
By definition suicides are excluded, as they are a deliberate act. Because of their importance, suicide statistics should be collected separately. Terrorist and criminal acts are excluded.
Inland waterways accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods: An inland waterways accident involving a vessel carrying any of the classes of dangerous goods defined by the ADN classification
Inland waterway traffic: any movement of an IWT vessel on a given IWT network.When a vessel is being carried on another vehicle, only the movement of the carrying vehicle (active mode) is taken into account.
Inland waterway journey: any movement of an IW vessel from a specified point of origin to a specified point of destination.
The statistical units for inland waterways transport are the inland waterways undertakings.
3.6. Statistical population
All enterprises/undertakings that carry out inland waterways transport on a national territory over one year, irrespective of their country of origins or place of first loading and final unloading.
3.7. Reference area
Country
3.8. Coverage - Time
Since 1996 – quarterly goods, tonne-kilometres.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Data is disseminated using the following units of measure:
1000T: Thousands of tonnes
MIO_TKM: Millions of tonnes/km (the transport of one tonne by inland waterways over one kilometre)
TEU: Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (a unit of volume used in maritime transport statistics equivalent to a 20-foot ISO container )
1000 TEU_KM: Thousands of TEUs/Km (the transport of one twenty-foot equivalent unit over one kilometre )
VES_MOV: Vessel movements (in number)
>VES_KM: Thousands of vessels/Km (the number of movement of an IWT vessel over one kilometre. The distance taken into account is the distance actually run. Movements of unladed vessels are included. In a convoy, each unit is counted as a vessel)
Quarter and year
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
National:
In the process of statistical data collection, processing and analysis and dissemination of statistical information, State Data Agency fully guarantees confidentiality of the data submitted by respondents (households, enterprises, institutions, organisations and other statistical units), as defined in the Confidentiality policy guidelines of the State Data Agency.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The data collected is not confidential
8.1. Release calendar
Statistical information is published in accordance with an Official Statistics Calendar.
Statistical information is prepared and disseminated under the principle of impartiality and objectivity, i.e. in a systematic, reliable and unbiased manner, following professional and ethical standards (the European Statistics Code of Practice), and the policies and practices followed are transparent to users and survey respondents.
All users have equal access to statistical information. All statistical information is published at the same time – at 9 a.m. on the day of publication of statistical information as indicated in the calendar on the Official Statistics Portal. Relevant statistical information is sent automatically to news subscribers.
The President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, their advisers, the Ministers of Finance, Economy and Innovation, as well as Social Security and Labour or their authorized persons, as well as, in exceptional cases, external experts and researchers have the right to receive early statistical information. The specified persons are entitled to receive statistical reports on GDP, inflation, employment and unemployment and other particularly relevant statistical reports one day prior to the publication of this statistical information on the Official Statistics Portal. Before exercising the right of early receipt of statistical information, a person shall sign an undertaking not to disseminate the statistical information received before it has been officially published.
Statistical information is published following the Official Statistics Dissemination Policy Guidelines and Statistical Information Dissemination and Communication Rules of the State Data Agency approved by Order No DĮ-208 of 8 October 2024 of the Director General of the State Data Agency.
Quarterly, annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
News releases are not prepared.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Statistical information is released in publicatin Lithuania in Figures.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Database of Indicators (Transport and communications -> Inland waterway transport indicators).
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata are available and provided for scientific purposes according to the provisions set in the Description of Procedures for the Provision of Confidential Statistical Data for Scientific Purposes. More information is available on the Official Statistics Portal, at Data Provision.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Statistical information is published in the Eurostat‘s database, provided to the international organizations, published on social networks.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological documents are published in the Official Statistics Portal section Inland waterways transport.
In 2007, a quality management system, conforming to the requirements of the international quality management system standard ISO 9001, was introduced at State Data Agency. The main trends in activity of State Data Agency aimed at quality management and continuous development in the institution are established in the Quality Policy.
Monitoring of the quality indicators of statistical processes and their results and self-evaluation of statistical survey managers is regularly carried out in order to identify areas which need improvement and to promptly eliminate shortcomings.
More information on assurance of quality of statistical information and its preparation is published in the Quality Management section on the State Data Agency website.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Data quality is in line with the accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, comparability and compatibility requirements. The calculation results are compared with the previous years.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users of statistical information are the institutions of the European Commission, public authorities, international organizations, the media, research and business communities, students and other users whose needs are satisfied without a breach of the confidentiality principle. Statistical information is used to forecast and analyze economic developments.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since 2005, user opinion surveys have been conducted on a regular basis. Official Statistics Portal traffic is monitored, website visitor opinion polls, general opinion poll on the products and services of State Data Agency, target user group opinion polls and other surveys are conducted.
In 2007, the compilation of a user satisfaction index was launched. The said surveys are aimed at the assessment of the overall demand for and necessity of statistical information in general and specific statistical indicators in particular.
More information on user opinion surveys and results thereof are published in the User Surveys section on the State Data Agency website.
12.3. Completeness
All inland waterway transport statistics indicators are published at national level.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The survey is exhaustive.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Statistical information of goods is published not leter on the 43rd day after the end of the reference quarter.
14.2. Punctuality
Statistical information is published in accordance with an Official Statistics Calendar. In case of delay, users are notified in advance by indicating the reason and a new date of publication.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Statistical information is comparable across the EU. The definitions of the indicators comply with the EU requirements defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the Council.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability over time is fully ensured.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
Quarterly and annual statistics are coherent.
Average time spent by a respondent on the filling-in of a statistical survey questionnaire - 70 min.
The results published are final and not revised later. Exceptions are only for significant errors, changes in classifications, methodologies, new statistical data sources, etc.
18.1. Source data
The source of statistical information - quarterly statistical survey on Inland Waterway transport. The Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration provides administrative data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual, quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
The data are collected via the electronic statistical data preparation and transfer system e-Statistics, by email.
Data are collected on the statistical questionnaires: quarterly statistical survey for inland waterways transport of passengers and goods (TU-01), approved by Order No. DĮ-242 of 7 November 2024 of the Director General of State Data Agency, on the annual statistical survey inland waterways statistical report (TU-04), approved by Order No. DĮ-213 of 8 October 2024 of the Director General of State Data Agency. The Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration provides administrative data on the number of inland waterway vehicles.
Statistical report forms is regularly monitored and, if necessary, improved (last tested in 2016) in order to reduce statistical reporting burden on respondents.
To ensure the quality of statistical data, data are compared with the data of the previous year. Statistical analysis is performed. Trends of the time series are analyzed, differing values of the statistical indicators are identified, significant changes in the trends and their causes, as well as correlations between the indicators are figured out, and, in case of significant deviations, causes of the deviations and errors are corrected.
18.5. Data compilation
The summation method is used to calculate the statistical indicators. Quarterly and annual statistical information are calculated. The process of compiling statistical indicators is described in more detail in the Inland waterways transport statistical survey methodology.
18.6. Adjustment
Impact of the season and the number of working days on Inland waterway transport statistics is not assessed.
No comment.
Inland waterway transport statistics provides information on the volume and performance of freight transport on EU inland waterway network. They are reported on the basis of the "territoriality principle" which means that each country reports the loading, unloading and movements of goods that take place on its national territory, irrespective of country of origins of undertakings or place of first loading and final unloading.
The full data provision obligation includes:
annually: goods transport by type of goods, by nationality of vessels and by type of vessel as well as container transport by type of goods;
quarterly: goods and container transport by nationality of vessels.
In addition, the legislation foresees voluntary annual data on vessel traffic. Voluntary annual data on the transport of dangerous goods and the number of accidents has been agreed with the reporting countries.
In summary, the statistics transmitted to Eurostat on inland waterway transport:
Transport of goods (annual and quarterly mandatory data provision);
Vessel traffic (annual voluntary data provision);
Transport of dangerous goods (annual voluntary data provision)
Number of accidents (annual voluntary data provision).
7 August 2025
The definitions covering the main concepts used in this domain are included in Article 1 and Annex II to Regulation 425/2007. The main definitions are as follows:
Navigable inland waterway: A watercourse, no part of the sea, which by natural or man-made features is suitable for navigation, primarily by inland waterway vessels. This term covers navigable rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries.
Inland waterway vessel: A floating craft designed for the carriage of goods or public transport of passengers, which navigates predominantly in navigable inland waterways or in waters within, or closely adjacent to sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply.
Nationality of the vessel: The country in which the vessel is registered.
Inland waterways transport: Any movement of goods using inland waterways vessels, which is undertaken wholly or partly in navigable inland waterways.
National inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport between two ports of a national territory irrespective of the nationality of the vessel.
International inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport between two ports located in different national territories.
Transit inland waterways transport: Inland waterways transport through a national territory between two ports both located in another national territory or national territories provided that in the total journey within the national territory there is no trans-shipment.
Inland movement: any movement of goods and/or passengers to and from inland ports connected by water routes which may be made navigable by one or more lock structures.
Inland waterways traffic: Any movement of a vessel on a given navigable inland waterway.
Types of vessels:
Self-propelled barge. Any powered inland waterways freight vessel, other than self-propelled tanker barges.
Barge not self-propelled. Any unpowered inland waterways freight vessel, other than not self-propelled tanker barges. This category includes towed, pushed and pushed-towed barges.
Self-propelled tanker barge. A self-propelled barge intended for the transport of liquids or gases in fixed tanks.
Tanker barge not self-propelled. A barge not self-propelled intended for the transport of liquids or gases in fixed tanks.
Other goods carrying vessel. Any other known or unknown kind of inland waterways freight vessel intended for carrying goods not defined in the previous categories.
Seagoing vessel. A vessel other than those, which navigate predominantly in navigable inland waterways or in waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply.
Containers: A freight container means an article of transport equipment:
1. of a permanent nature and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;
2. specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading;
3. fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to another;
4. so designed as to be easy to fill and empty;
5. having a length of 20 feet or more.
The size of containers is reported according to four categories:
1) 20 Foot ISO containers (length of 20 feet and width of 8 feet)
2) 40 Foot ISO containers (length of 40 feet and width of 8 feet)
3) ISO containers over 20 feet and under 40 feet in length
4) ISO containers over 40 feet long
Containers smaller than 20 feet are reported under Category 1.
Containers of unknown size are reported under Category 3.
Inland waterways accidents: specific, identifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external event caused by, or in connection with, the operation of an inland waterways vessel resulting in an inland waterways casualty or incident which occurs at a particular time and place, without apparent cause but with marked effect.
By definition suicides are excluded, as they are a deliberate act. Because of their importance, suicide statistics should be collected separately. Terrorist and criminal acts are excluded.
Inland waterways accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods: An inland waterways accident involving a vessel carrying any of the classes of dangerous goods defined by the ADN classification
Inland waterway traffic: any movement of an IWT vessel on a given IWT network.When a vessel is being carried on another vehicle, only the movement of the carrying vehicle (active mode) is taken into account.
Inland waterway journey: any movement of an IW vessel from a specified point of origin to a specified point of destination.
The statistical units for inland waterways transport are the inland waterways undertakings.
All enterprises/undertakings that carry out inland waterways transport on a national territory over one year, irrespective of their country of origins or place of first loading and final unloading.
Country
Quarter and year
The survey is exhaustive.
Data is disseminated using the following units of measure:
1000T: Thousands of tonnes
MIO_TKM: Millions of tonnes/km (the transport of one tonne by inland waterways over one kilometre)
TEU: Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (a unit of volume used in maritime transport statistics equivalent to a 20-foot ISO container )
1000 TEU_KM: Thousands of TEUs/Km (the transport of one twenty-foot equivalent unit over one kilometre )
VES_MOV: Vessel movements (in number)
>VES_KM: Thousands of vessels/Km (the number of movement of an IWT vessel over one kilometre. The distance taken into account is the distance actually run. Movements of unladed vessels are included. In a convoy, each unit is counted as a vessel)
The summation method is used to calculate the statistical indicators. Quarterly and annual statistical information are calculated. The process of compiling statistical indicators is described in more detail in the Inland waterways transport statistical survey methodology.
The source of statistical information - quarterly statistical survey on Inland Waterway transport. The Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration provides administrative data.
Quarterly, annual
Statistical information of goods is published not leter on the 43rd day after the end of the reference quarter.
Statistical information is comparable across the EU. The definitions of the indicators comply with the EU requirements defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the Council.
