Voies navigables de France (VNF, English: Navigable Waterways of France) is the French navigation authority responsible for the management of the majority of France's inland waterways network and the associated facilities—towpaths, commercial and leisureports, lock-keeper's houses and other structures. VNF was established in 1991 and took over the responsibility for all waterways from the National Office of Navigation (French: Office National de la Navigation) in 1993. It is a public body and is under the control of the Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development (French: Ministère de l'Écologie, de l'Energie, du Développement durable et de l'Aménagement du territoire). The headquarters of VNF are in Béthune, Pas-de-Calais with local offices throughout France.
The French natural and man-made waterways network is the largest in Europe[1] extending to over 8,500-kilometre (5,300 mi) of which VNF manages the navigable sections. The assets managed by VNF comprise 6,700-kilometre (4,200 mi) of waterways, made up of 3,800-kilometre (2,400 mi) of canals and 2,900-kilometre (1,800 mi) of navigable rivers, 494 dams, 1595 locks, 74 aqueducts, 65 reservoirs, 35 tunnels and a land area of 800 km2 (310 sq mi).[2] Two significant waterways which are not under VNF's control are the navigable sections of the River Somme and the Brittany Canals, which are both under local management, and neither is the River Lot in Aquitaine.
Enhancementsedit
Approximately 20% of the network is suitable for commercial boats of over 1000 tonnes[3] and the VNF has an ongoing programme of maintenance and modernisation to increase depth of waterways, widths of locks and headroom under bridges to support France's strategy of encouraging freight onto water as part of her sustainable development programme—a survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers[when?] showed that 75% of French companies were willing to switch to barge transport.[citation needed]
A major current initiative is the cross-border Seine–Nord Europe Canal project, connecting the Seine and the Scheldt, which will provide a continuous wide-gauge navigation from Le Havre to Antwerp.[4]
^(PDF). VNF (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
^"Questions and Answers". VNF. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
^"Seine-Scheldt". Inland Navigation Europe. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
External linksedit
VNF website (in English)
January 01, 1970
voies, navigables, france, english, navigable, waterways, france, french, navigation, authority, responsible, management, majority, france, inland, waterways, network, associated, facilities, towpaths, commercial, leisure, ports, lock, keeper, houses, other, s. Voies navigables de France VNF English Navigable Waterways of France is the French navigation authority responsible for the management of the majority of France s inland waterways network and the associated facilities towpaths commercial and leisure ports lock keeper s houses and other structures VNF was established in 1991 and took over the responsibility for all waterways from the National Office of Navigation French Office National de la Navigation in 1993 It is a public body and is under the control of the Minister of Ecology Energy Sustainable Development and Territorial Development French Ministere de l Ecologie de l Energie du Developpement durable et de l Amenagement du territoire The headquarters of VNF are in Bethune Pas de Calais with local offices throughout France Voies navigables de FranceAbbreviationVNFPredecessorOffice National de la NavigationFormation1991Headquarters175 rue Ludovic Boutleux62400 BethunePresidentLaurent HenartDirector generalThierry GuimbaudStaff4000Websitehttp www vnf fr A barge on the River Seine one of the waterways managed by VNF Contents 1 French waterways network 1 1 Enhancements 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksFrench waterways network editThe French natural and man made waterways network is the largest in Europe 1 extending to over 8 500 kilometre 5 300 mi of which VNF manages the navigable sections The assets managed by VNF comprise 6 700 kilometre 4 200 mi of waterways made up of 3 800 kilometre 2 400 mi of canals and 2 900 kilometre 1 800 mi of navigable rivers 494 dams 1595 locks 74 aqueducts 65 reservoirs 35 tunnels and a land area of 800 km2 310 sq mi 2 Two significant waterways which are not under VNF s control are the navigable sections of the River Somme and the Brittany Canals which are both under local management and neither is the River Lot in Aquitaine Enhancements edit Approximately 20 of the network is suitable for commercial boats of over 1000 tonnes 3 and the VNF has an ongoing programme of maintenance and modernisation to increase depth of waterways widths of locks and headroom under bridges to support France s strategy of encouraging freight onto water as part of her sustainable development programme a survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers when showed that 75 of French companies were willing to switch to barge transport citation needed A major current initiative is the cross border Seine Nord Europe Canal project connecting the Seine and the Scheldt which will provide a continuous wide gauge navigation from Le Havre to Antwerp 4 See also editList of rivers of France List of canals in FranceReferences edit Waterways development VNF Retrieved 2008 10 29 Presentation complete PDF VNF in French Archived from the original PDF on 2008 11 20 Retrieved 2008 10 29 Questions and Answers VNF Retrieved 2008 10 29 Seine Scheldt Inland Navigation Europe Retrieved 2008 10 29 External links editVNF website in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Voies navigables de France amp oldid 1075326940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
