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.
Urząd Statystyczny w Szczecinie ul. Jana Matejki 22 70-530 Szczecin, Poland SekretariatUSSZC@stat.gov.pl
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
31 August 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 August 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
31 August 2025
3.1. Data description
Data collection on inland waterway transport at EU level is based on Regulation (EU) 2018/974 and covers the transport of goods and passengers by inland waterways.
Data on passenger and goods transport cover both national and international transport carried out by Polish inland waterway transport undertakings. Data are reported in accordance with the “territoriality principle”, which means that each country reports the loading, unloading and movement of goods taking place on its national territory, irrespective of the country of origin of the undertakings or the place of first loading and final unloading.
The statistics are set out in 10 annexes (datasets): D1, D2 - quarterly data and A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1 - annual data
Data in the annexes are broken down by different categories:
dataset A1 - Goods transport by type of goods
dataset A2 - Transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways
dataset A3 - Number of inland waterway accidents
dataset A4 - Goods transport by port of loading and port of unloading
dataset A5 - Goods transport by type of cargo
dataset B1 - Transport by nationality of the vessel and type of vessel
dataset B2 - Vessel traffic
dataset C1 - Vessel traffic by size of containers
dataset E1 - Goods transport by type of transport
dataset D1 - Transport by nationality of vessels (quarterly data)
dataset D2 - Container transport by nationality of vessels (quarterly data)
Territorial units such as the reporting country and regions of loading and unloading are coded according to the NUTS classification for those units covered by NUTS Regulations and according to ISO 3166 for the rest (e.g. territorial units outside the EU). The NUTS version used always corresponds to the version in use and no conversion to the previous version is required. NUTS 2024 is used for 2024 data and onwards (or until a new NUTS version comes out).
The level of detail is either NUTS 0 – for a reporting country – or NUTS 2 (basic regions, 4 digits) – for regions. When using ISO 3166 and 4-digit coding is required (e.g. for regions outside the EU), the two-digit ISO code followed by “ZZ” is used.
Goods classification
Before 2007, the types of goods reported as being transported by inland waterways were those set out by NST/R (Standard Goods for Transport Statistics). Only in 2007, the type of goods was reported according to either the NST-2000 classification or the NST/R classification.
From 2008 onwards, only the NST 2007 classification is valid, as set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1304/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 with respect to the establishment of NST 2007 as the unique classification for transported goods in certain transport modes.
Dangerous goods classification
Dangerous goods are classified according to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN).
3.3. Coverage - sector
The inland waterways transport sector covers entities of the national economy carrying out inland waterways transport of goods and passengers.
The statistical survey covers entities of the national economy, regardless of the number of persons employed, carrying out activities classified according to PKD 2025 under:
50.30 – Inland passenger water transport;
50.40 – Inland freight water transport.
According to PKD 2007, the corresponding activities were classified under classes 50.30 and 50.40.
In addition, information on inland waterways, inland waterway transport fleet and accidents is collected from Inland Navigation Offices and Regional Water Management Authorities.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
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 other bodies of water, including river estuaries. For river estuaries, the boundary is defined as the point nearest the sea where the river's width is less than 3 km at low tide and less than 5 km at high tide. In cases where officially adopted maps or lists of inland waterways are available, they should take precedence over these criteria for determining the boundaries of navigable inland waterways for statistical purposes.
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. Vessels under repair and fluvio-maritime vessels are included. In contrast, this category excludes harbour craft, port lighters and port tugs, fishery vessels, floating equipment and worksite craft, vessels performing hydraulic work, vessels used exclusively for storage, floating workshops, houseboats, pleasure craft and small craft.
Nationality of the vessel: The country in which the vessel is registered.
Inland waterway transport: Any movement of goods and/or passengers using inland waterway vessels, which is undertaken wholly or partly in navigable inland waterways. Bunkers and stores supplied to vessels in port are excluded.
National inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports of a national territory irrespective of the nationality of the vessel. It may involve transit through a second country, although for this country this transport must be reported as transit. Inland waterway cabotage transport is included.
International inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports located in different national territories. It may involve transit through one or more countries. For the latter countries, this transport must be reported as transit.
Transit inland waterway transport: Inland waterway 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
Types of vessels:
Self-propelled barge: Any powered inland waterway freight vessel, other than self-propelled tanker barges.
Barge not self-propelled: Any unpowered inland waterway 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 waterway freight vessel intended for carrying goods not defined in the previous categories.
Seagoing vessel: Floating marine structure with one or more surface displacement hulls.
Containers: Special box designed to carry freight and constituting a type of Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU). It is strengthened and stackable, allowing both horizontal and vertical transfers. A more formal technical definition of a container is an article of transport equipment that is of a permanent nature and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use; specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading; fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to another; so designed as to be easy to fill and empty; stackable; and having a length of 20 feet or more. Swap bodies are excluded.
The size of containers is reported according to four categories:
20 Foot ISO containers (length of 20 feet and width of 8 feet);
40 Foot ISO containers (length of 40 feet and width of 8 feet);
ISO containers over 20 feet and under 40 feet in length;
ISO containers over 40 feet long.
Inland waterway accidents: Any specific, identifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external event caused by, or in connection with, the operation of an inland waterway vessel resulting in an inland waterway casualty or incident which occurs at a particular time and place, without apparent cause but with marked effect. An accident in connection with the normal operation of the vessel, including when it is in port or at anchor, is covered. Terrorist acts, vandalism, other criminal acts and acts of war are excluded. Suicides are excluded as they are a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in death, as recorded and classified by the competent national authority. The death of a person due to natural causes is also excluded.
Inland waterway accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods: An inland waterway accident involving a vessel carrying any of the classes of dangerous goods defined by the ADN classification.
Inland waterway traffic: Any movement of an inland waterway vessel on a given inland waterway 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 inland waterway vessel from a specified point of origin to a specified point of destination.
The statistical units for inland waterway transport are the inland waterway undertakings.
3.6. Statistical population
Data on passenger and freight transport are collected from inland waterway undertakings, being entities of the national economy, carrying out inland waterways transport both within the national territory and abroad.
3.7. Reference area
Poland, Europe.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2010-2025.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The units used depend on the variables collected within each data set and are: gross weight of goods expressed in thousands of tonnes; number of passengers in thousands, number of vessels.
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).
Thousands of passengers.
Thousands of passenger-km (the transport of one passenger by inland waterways over one kilometre).
Quarters for datasets D1 and D2.
Calendar years for datasets A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National:
REGULATION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS of 24 September 2024 on the programme of statistical surveys of official statistics for 2025
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.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The data are treated in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 29 June 1995 on Public Statistics, as amended.
8.1. Release calendar
National release calendar of the statistics that are provided to Eurostat.
Publications:
"Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland 2025" (December 2026),
Small Statistical Yearbook of Poland 2025 (July 2026),
“Transport – economic performance in 2025” (September 2026).
"Inland waterways transport in Poland 2024 and 2025" (October 2026).
Statistical news:
"Inland water transport in Poland in 2025" (July 2026)
“Freight and passenger transport in 2025” (June 2026),
Databases:
Knowledge Databases - Maritime and inland economy – Inland waterways transport (December 2026),
STRATEG – Development monitoring system – Transport and communication – Inland transport (December 2026);
Eurostat Database (Database by themes/Transport/Inland waterways transport).
Inland waterway transport statistics are available free of charge to users. However, more detailed information or other layouts, in compliance with confidentiality rules, can be made for a fee. The policy provides for the disseminaton of statistical data to all users at the same time. The users are informed about the release dates in the Statistical Survey Programs of Official Statistics.
The methodological notes (basic information) are included in publications. Some terms are explained in dictionary Statistics Poland. The methodology is based on the Reference Manual on Inland Waterways Transport Statistics and Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways (codification).
10.7. Quality management - documentation
There are national procedures applied for quality management, e.g. annual quality analysis (quality report; not available for the public).
11.1. Quality assurance
There are procedures in place to plan, monitor and improve the quality of the statistical processes. To improve the quality, the data are collected via IT tool equipped with internal consistency and counting checks preventing from delivering inconsistent information within a questionnaire. The questionnaires include guidelines which are improved systematically if needed (on the basis of the feedback given by respondents). There are additional checks made by the Statistics Poland, the data providers are asked to explain or/and revise the figures if needed.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of the data is assessed as high for both inland waterways transport of goods and inland waterways transport of passengers. The data are obtained directly from entities of the national economy carrying out transport activities. The statistical survey covers entities of the national economy, regardless of the number of persons employed, carrying out activities classified according to PKD 2025 under classes 50.30 – Inland passenger water transport and 50.40 – Inland freight water transport (according to PKD 2007, classes 50.30 and 50.40).
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The purpose of the data collection is to provide information on the level and structure of transport services and on the transport potential for shaping economic policy as well as transport market analysis and research.
Data are collected for national and European strategies and programs, e.g.:
Users:
Eurostat and other foreign statistical institutions,
central government administration,
scientific/research bodies,
universities - students, academic teachers,
individual foreign recipients,
international organisations,
local government administration - voivodeships.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable - opinions are not collected
12.3. Completeness
The collection of statistical data on inland waterways transport is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation. All required variables are provided in all datasets, both quarterly and annual.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy of the inland waterway transport of passengers and goods statistics is good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Quarterly data are transmitted to Eurostat five months after the end of the observation period, whereas annual data are transmitted five months after the end of the last quarter of the previous year.
14.2. Punctuality
Datasets are transmitted on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Some non-comparability may arise from the use of different methodologies by EU countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
As from 2010 the statistics on the inland waterway transport are comparable over time. Time series checks are regularly made to detect inconsistencies in the data. There were no time series breaks.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
Coherence - internal Statistics are consistent within a given data set.
The average declared time for data collection by a respondent – approximately 40 minutes. The average declared time for completion of a questionnaire by a respondent – approximately 25 minutes.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The data are collected quarterly and verified by statisticians at several stages of processing. Any errors are corrected immediately. The data are then processed and published.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See: point 17.1.
18.1. Source data
The data sources are entities of the national economy carrying out inland waterway transport, Inland Navigation Offices and Regional Water Management Authorities.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected quarterly for goods transport and annually for passenger transport.
18.3. Data collection
Reporting units submit data on-line via IT system - Reporting Portal. In exceptional cases other ways (email, postal service) of data delivery is acceptable (the data are transferred into the system by the CSO staff). The questionnaires available in the IT system are improved and tested every year before the beginning of the survey. The on-line questionnaire is equipped with internal consistency and counting checks preventing from delivering inconsistent information within the questionnaire. The system authomatically generates notifications about deadlines, the notifications are delivered to respondents via email. The CSO staff monitors the progress of completing the questionnaires in the IT system. If there is no reply from a respondent despite of notifications, the CSO staff makes.
18.4. Data validation
National level:
completeness control
consistency and counting checks in a dedicated system
Eurostat level: The data are checked and validated by EUROSTAT. Detected errors are then reported back to the data providers with the request for correction.
18.5. Data compilation
The datasets are delivered to Eurostat after verification and aggregation.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
No comments.
Data collection on inland waterway transport at EU level is based on Regulation (EU) 2018/974 and covers the transport of goods and passengers by inland waterways.
Data on passenger and goods transport cover both national and international transport carried out by Polish inland waterway transport undertakings. Data are reported in accordance with the “territoriality principle”, which means that each country reports the loading, unloading and movement of goods taking place on its national territory, irrespective of the country of origin of the undertakings or the place of first loading and final unloading.
The statistics are set out in 10 annexes (datasets): D1, D2 - quarterly data and A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1 - annual data
Data in the annexes are broken down by different categories:
dataset A1 - Goods transport by type of goods
dataset A2 - Transport of dangerous goods by inland waterways
dataset A3 - Number of inland waterway accidents
dataset A4 - Goods transport by port of loading and port of unloading
dataset A5 - Goods transport by type of cargo
dataset B1 - Transport by nationality of the vessel and type of vessel
dataset B2 - Vessel traffic
dataset C1 - Vessel traffic by size of containers
dataset E1 - Goods transport by type of transport
dataset D1 - Transport by nationality of vessels (quarterly data)
dataset D2 - Container transport by nationality of vessels (quarterly data)
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 other bodies of water, including river estuaries. For river estuaries, the boundary is defined as the point nearest the sea where the river's width is less than 3 km at low tide and less than 5 km at high tide. In cases where officially adopted maps or lists of inland waterways are available, they should take precedence over these criteria for determining the boundaries of navigable inland waterways for statistical purposes.
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. Vessels under repair and fluvio-maritime vessels are included. In contrast, this category excludes harbour craft, port lighters and port tugs, fishery vessels, floating equipment and worksite craft, vessels performing hydraulic work, vessels used exclusively for storage, floating workshops, houseboats, pleasure craft and small craft.
Nationality of the vessel: The country in which the vessel is registered.
Inland waterway transport: Any movement of goods and/or passengers using inland waterway vessels, which is undertaken wholly or partly in navigable inland waterways. Bunkers and stores supplied to vessels in port are excluded.
National inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports of a national territory irrespective of the nationality of the vessel. It may involve transit through a second country, although for this country this transport must be reported as transit. Inland waterway cabotage transport is included.
International inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports located in different national territories. It may involve transit through one or more countries. For the latter countries, this transport must be reported as transit.
Transit inland waterway transport: Inland waterway 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
Types of vessels:
Self-propelled barge: Any powered inland waterway freight vessel, other than self-propelled tanker barges.
Barge not self-propelled: Any unpowered inland waterway 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 waterway freight vessel intended for carrying goods not defined in the previous categories.
Seagoing vessel: Floating marine structure with one or more surface displacement hulls.
Containers: Special box designed to carry freight and constituting a type of Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU). It is strengthened and stackable, allowing both horizontal and vertical transfers. A more formal technical definition of a container is an article of transport equipment that is of a permanent nature and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use; specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading; fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to another; so designed as to be easy to fill and empty; stackable; and having a length of 20 feet or more. Swap bodies are excluded.
The size of containers is reported according to four categories:
20 Foot ISO containers (length of 20 feet and width of 8 feet);
40 Foot ISO containers (length of 40 feet and width of 8 feet);
ISO containers over 20 feet and under 40 feet in length;
ISO containers over 40 feet long.
Inland waterway accidents: Any specific, identifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external event caused by, or in connection with, the operation of an inland waterway vessel resulting in an inland waterway casualty or incident which occurs at a particular time and place, without apparent cause but with marked effect. An accident in connection with the normal operation of the vessel, including when it is in port or at anchor, is covered. Terrorist acts, vandalism, other criminal acts and acts of war are excluded. Suicides are excluded as they are a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in death, as recorded and classified by the competent national authority. The death of a person due to natural causes is also excluded.
Inland waterway accidents involving the transport of dangerous goods: An inland waterway accident involving a vessel carrying any of the classes of dangerous goods defined by the ADN classification.
Inland waterway traffic: Any movement of an inland waterway vessel on a given inland waterway 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 inland waterway vessel from a specified point of origin to a specified point of destination.
The statistical units for inland waterway transport are the inland waterway undertakings.
Data on passenger and freight transport are collected from inland waterway undertakings, being entities of the national economy, carrying out inland waterways transport both within the national territory and abroad.
Poland, Europe.
Quarters for datasets D1 and D2.
Calendar years for datasets A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1.
Overall accuracy of the inland waterway transport of passengers and goods statistics is good.
The units used depend on the variables collected within each data set and are: gross weight of goods expressed in thousands of tonnes; number of passengers in thousands, number of vessels.
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).
Thousands of passengers.
Thousands of passenger-km (the transport of one passenger by inland waterways over one kilometre).
The datasets are delivered to Eurostat after verification and aggregation.
The data sources are entities of the national economy carrying out inland waterway transport, Inland Navigation Offices and Regional Water Management Authorities.
Annual frequency of data dissemination (7 months after the reference period).
Quarterly data are transmitted to Eurostat five months after the end of the observation period, whereas annual data are transmitted five months after the end of the last quarter of the previous year.
Some non-comparability may arise from the use of different methodologies by EU countries.
As from 2010 the statistics on the inland waterway transport are comparable over time. Time series checks are regularly made to detect inconsistencies in the data. There were no time series breaks.
