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
Inland waterway transport.
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:
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;
having a length of 20 feet or more.
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.
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
Poland, Europe.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2010-2024.
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).
Quarters for datasets D1 and D2.
Whole calendar years for datasets A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
REGULATION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS of 7 December 2023 on the official statistics research program for 2024
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
European:
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.
For the purposes of Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006, the Commission shall disseminate, on any medium and with any data structure, all data specified in Annex A to F to the same Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 which are not declared confidential by the Member States.
8.1. Release calendar
There is a national calendar of the statistics that are provided to Eurostat. List of the dates below:
"Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland 2025" (December 2025),
Small Statistical Yearbook of Poland 2025 (July 2025),
“Transport – economic performance in 2024” (September 2025).
Signal information,
"Inland water transport in Poland in 2024" (July 2025),
“Freight and passenger transport in 2024” (May 2025),
Online databases,
Subject knowledge base – DBW Transport and communication – Transport/Inland waterways/Freight rolling stock (December 2025),
Subject knowledge base – DBW Transport and communication – Transport/Inland waterways/Freight transport (December 2025),
Strateg – Development monitoring system – Transport and communication – Inland transport (December 2025).
Documentation of the data collection methodology is mainly forms and explanations relating to them. At the current level, data are collected on the shipping fleet including their number, age, propulsion power (if propulsion is provided) and deadweight in measurable tonnes. Freight data are also collected by relation and freight group. In addition, data on the number of vessels, their age, seating capacity and motive power are collected for inland passenger shipping. Data are also collected on the number of passengers carried and the number of journeys made. Methodology and definitions based on 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
No quality management or quality assessment procedures are applied to inland waterway transport data.
11.1. Quality assurance
There are no guidelines focusing on quality in general or dealing with quality statistical programmes. Also, there are no measures ensuring the efficient use of resources.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Research do not provide any assessment of data quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The users of the statistics are the government, society and if necessary, the data can be calculated on special request but for a fee.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are not provided any measures that determine user satisfaction.
12.3. Completeness
All studies on inland waterway transport are full studies. They are always sent on time both quarterly and annually.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
There are no measures or indicators that assess accuracy or which summarise various components into one single measure.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Quarterly data shall be transmitted to Eurostat within five months of the end of the observation period; annual data shall also be transmitted within five months of the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
Data transmitted to Eurostat since 2010 have always been transmitted on time and the timeliness of transmission is 100%.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data collected can be compared with all countries that are in EU because they are obliged to present such data.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data has been collected since 2010 and to date is comparable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable
The total costs of the inland waterway transport study amounted to PLN 207 145 per year.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The data are continuously verified by statisticians. Any errors are also corrected immediately. Data are collected quarterly and annually and then analysed, processed, collated and published.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data is verified in three stages. The first verification follows the generation of data from the Reporting Portal. The second is after entering the data submitted on paper. The third after the final calculation of the result tables. At each stage, in case of doubt, personal contact is made with the rapporteur by email or telephone.
18.1. Source data
The data sources are inland waterway transport operators and Inland Waterway Transport Authorities.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data is collected on a quarterly and annual basis.
18.3. Data collection
Data is collected from rapporteurs via the electronic reporting portal and by traditional means via the reporting form. Data may also be collected through a telephone interview.
18.4. Data validation
Thanks to appropriate assumptions and algorithms in the Reporting Portal for data collection, any errors and irregularities are already eliminated at the data entry stage. The others are subject to careful analysis by the person analysing the data entered.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
No comments.
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).
31 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:
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;
having a length of 20 feet or more.
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.
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.
Poland, Europe.
Quarters for datasets D1 and D2.
Whole calendar years for datasets A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, C1, E1.
There are no measures or indicators that assess accuracy or which summarise various components into one single measure.
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).
Not applicable
The data sources are inland waterway transport operators and Inland Waterway Transport Authorities.
Yearly inland waterway transport statistics are published within 7 months after the reference period.
Quarterly data shall be transmitted to Eurostat within five months of the end of the observation period; annual data shall also be transmitted within five months of the end of the reference period.
Data collected can be compared with all countries that are in EU because they are obliged to present such data.
Data has been collected since 2010 and to date is comparable.
