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.
Transport, Post and Telecommunications Statistics Unit - Structural Business Statistics Directorate - Economic Statistics Directorate-General
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
16 Libertatii Bvd., Bucharest 5, ROMANIA
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
10 May 2023
2.2. Metadata last posted
8 July 2022
2.3. Metadata last update
28 July 2025
3.1. Data description
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 the nationality of the vessel performing the transport 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
1 Explosive substances and articles 2 Gases 3 Flammable liquids 4.1 Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitised explosives 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion 4.3 Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases 5.1 Oxidising substances 5.2 Organic peroxides 6.1 Toxic substances 6.2 Infectious substances 7 Radioactive material 8 Corrosive substances 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
3.3. Coverage - sector
The transport of goods by inland waterways as national, international and transit transport.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The definitions covering the main concepts used in this domain are included in Article 3 and Annex I-V to . 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 ports and regional harbour masters activity.
3.6. Statistical population
Goods transport vessels that carry out inland waterways transport on the national territory, irrespective of their nationality or first place of loading and final unloading.
3.7. Reference area
Transport of goods on Romanian IWW network.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data for 2004-2007 reference years were provided using NST/R (Standard Goods for Transport Statistics).
Since 2008 reference year the NST2007 unique classification for transported goods is used.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is reported using the following units of measure:
T: tonnes;
TKM: 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 );
TEU_KM: TEU-km (the transport of one twenty-foot equivalent unit over one kilometre );
VES_MOV: Vessel movements (in number);
VES_KM: vessel-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).
Data is disseminated using the following units of measure:
1000T: Thousands of tonnes;
1000TKM: Thousands 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 TEU-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 reference period is the calendar year, respectively the calendar quarter.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Order of the President of the National Institute of Statistics setting the methodological approach for IWW transport of goods statistics;
Law 226/2009 on organising and functioning of official statistics in Romania updated with subsequent amendments.
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.
Data is disseminated in NIS TEMPO online database, in NIS publications 'Transport of goods and passengers at ports' and 'Transport of passengers and goods, by mode of transport', according to the catalogue of NIS publications, in other NIS publications.
At national level, data is disseminated at seventy days of the end of the reference period in NIS quarterly publication 'Transport of goods and passengers at ports' and at ninety days of the end of the quarter in NIS publication 'Transport of goods and passengers, by mode of transport'. Data is disseminated in NIS TEMPO online database within six months of the end of the reference year.
Data is available to all users in electronic format, Tempo database.
Annual data is disseminated in TEMPO online NIS database and synthesis NIS publications.
Quarterly data is disseminated in a dedicated NIS publication 'Transport of goods and passengers at ports' and in 'Transport of passengers and goods, by mode of transport'.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data is made available to the public in publications in electronic format, i.e. .pdf and .xls formats.
Annual data is disseminated in NIS TEMPO database / B.15 Transports.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data is also disseminated in Romanian Statistical Yearbook and other synthesis NIS publications.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Metadata are available on NIS website.
Methodological information is included in NIS quarterly publications and in TEMPO online database tables.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Annual Quality Reports are produced. Documentation on quality management is available on the INS website.
11.1. Quality assurance
Data quality is ensured by following the guidelines specified in the European Statistics Code of Practice.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The data quality is good.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The statistical data are produced in accordance with the legislation in force.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
A user satisfaction survey carried out by NIS every three years. The most recent one was in 2021.
This publication presents how the statistical data produced and the methodological information of the NIS meet to the information needs of different categories of users. It includes a presentation of the main results of the statistical survey on "Statistical data user satisfaction", respectively the profile of users of statistical data produced by the NIS, trust in the NIS and the statistical data produced by the NIS, the quality assessment of the data produced by the NIS.
12.3. Completeness
IWW goods transport statistics are compliant with the legislation in force.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of the statistics produced is good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Quarterly and annual data is transmitted to Eurostat within five months of the end of the period of observation.
At national level, data are disseminated 70 days after the end of the reference period in the INS quarterly publication "Transport of goods and passengers at ports" and 90 days after the end of the quarter in the INS publication "Transport of goods and passengers, by modes of transport".
14.2. Punctuality
Data is delivered on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
IWW goods transport statistics are comparable between geographical areas.
15.2. Comparability - over time
IWW goods transport statistics have been reported since 2004 reference year.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable.
The information on costs is available in the National Annual Statistical Programme.
Unscheduled revisions according to the NIS Revision Policy.
18.1. Source data
Data is collected through an exhaustive statistical survey from the port administrations, port operators and the regional harbour masters.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The survey is carried out every quarter at NIS Romania.
18.3. Data collection
Data is gathered on Excel format transmitted by our respondents via email. An questionnaire, nomenclatures, classifications, methodological information for data transmission is provided every year to our respondents.
18.4. Data validation
Data received is checked and validated at NIS Transport, Post and Telecommunications Unit, based on clarifications and corrections (if needed) provided by the respondents.
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 the nationality of the vessel performing the transport 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).
28 July 2025
The definitions covering the main concepts used in this domain are included in Article 3 and Annex I-V to . 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 ports and regional harbour masters activity.
Goods transport vessels that carry out inland waterways transport on the national territory, irrespective of their nationality or first place of loading and final unloading.
Transport of goods on Romanian IWW network.
The reference period is the calendar year, respectively the calendar quarter.
The overall accuracy of the statistics produced is good.
Data is reported using the following units of measure:
T: tonnes;
TKM: 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 );
TEU_KM: TEU-km (the transport of one twenty-foot equivalent unit over one kilometre );
VES_MOV: Vessel movements (in number);
VES_KM: vessel-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).
Data is disseminated using the following units of measure:
1000T: Thousands of tonnes;
1000TKM: Thousands 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 TEU-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).
Not applicable.
Data is collected through an exhaustive statistical survey from the port administrations, port operators and the regional harbour masters.
Annual data is disseminated in TEMPO online NIS database and synthesis NIS publications.
Quarterly data is disseminated in a dedicated NIS publication 'Transport of goods and passengers at ports' and in 'Transport of passengers and goods, by mode of transport'.
Quarterly and annual data is transmitted to Eurostat within five months of the end of the period of observation.
At national level, data are disseminated 70 days after the end of the reference period in the INS quarterly publication "Transport of goods and passengers at ports" and 90 days after the end of the quarter in the INS publication "Transport of goods and passengers, by modes of transport".
IWW goods transport statistics are comparable between geographical areas.
IWW goods transport statistics have been reported since 2004 reference year.
