What is an Inland Waterway

Any water body surrounded by land and that permits its usage for transportation of goods and passengers. Eg. Lakes, Rivers and Lagoons

The Fictional Components That Make Up Inland Waterway System

1. Ocean Reception Point

2. The Inland waterway

3. The Inland terminal

Question: what are non-footloose waterways?

Ans: Rivers and Canals

Multifunctional Nature of Inland Waterway

1. Sustainable modes of transport

2. Routes for telecommunications

3. A heritage landscape, open space and logical resource

4. A contributor to water supply

5. Tourism, cultural, sport, leisure & recreational resources

Value of Inland Waterways

1. An important part of cultural and built heritage

2. Among the most active and incentive providers of open-air learning activities in Ghana

3. They're part of the "natural health service" encouraging and supporting physical and healthy outdoor activity.

Examples of Ports on Inland Waterways

1. Akosombo Port in Ghana- Lake Volta

2. Abidjan Port in Cote D’voire’ - Aby Lagoon

3. Port bell in Uganda - Lake Victoria

4. Port Kisumu in Kenya - Lake Victoria

5. Port Musoma in Tanzania - Lake Victoria

Examples of Sea Ports with Inland Waterway Connections.

1. Rotterdam, Antwerp - Rhine River

2. Constantza, (Danube and beyond)

3. St. Petersburg, (Don, Volga)

Mention 6 Riparian Countries in Africa

1. Nigeria

2. Niger

3. Guinea

4. Uganda

5. Tanzania

6. Ghana

7. Mali

Mention 6 Riparian Countries in Europe

1. Germany

2. Netherlands

3. Switzerland

4. France

5. Austria

6. Great Britain

What is Inland Waterway Transportation

It is an intermodal transport system that serves as a competitive alternative or addition to road and rail transport in the movement of goods and passengers.

Advantages of Inland Waterway Transportation

1. Lower transportation costs

2. Fuel Efficient: 1liter fuel can move a barge over 10km distance compared to 16 liters required by a train and 70 liters required by a truck to move the same distance.

3. Environmentally friendly

4. Diminishes road congestions and Truck accidents by 50%

5. Large parcel sizes and volumes movement

6. Long term, secure & sustainable investments

7. New job opportunities (A new industry)

Conditions in Using Inland Waterways

1. Weight of ship and load it carries - waterway classes does not require the maximum tonnage that the ship may carry

2. Loading limit (height limits) of cargo - necessary not to limit the forward view of the Helmsman

3. Types and dimension of ships to use the waterway

History of the Akosombo Dam and Facts about the Volta Lake

The Akosombo Dam project was implemented by Impregilo (An Italian Civil Engineering Firm) under the supervision of VRA after they won the bidding in 1960

The Dam was then completed by 1966

The creation of the dam (an idea first conceived by a geologist Albert Enerst Kitson in 1935) led to creation of the Volta Lake

The Volta Lake has four tributaries; the Black Volta, the White Volta, the Upper Volta and the Oti

1. Volta Lake created in 1965 by damming of the Volta River

2. 600 Km navigable waterway in Ghana.

3. Has 2 dedicated river ports at Akosombo and Buipe, plus landing sites at cross lake ferry stations.

4. Has 5 existing cross lake ferries at Yeji, Dambai, Kete-Krachi, Kpando and Adawso.

5. Transport of passengers and agriculture products

Q1. In what year was the Akosombo Dam Constructed?

Ans: 1966

Q2. On What Day was the akosombo port Commissioned?

Ans: Friday, November 13th 1987

Q3. What is the full title of the person who commissioned the akosombo port?

Ans: His Excellency The Late Flight Jerry John Rawlins

Q4. Who Commissioned the Volta Lake Project?

Ans: Kwame Nkrumah

Q5. Which Institution is Responsible for Managing the Operational Hardwares of the Volta? Lake?

Ans: VRA

Q6. Which institution is responsible for managing the regulatory framework of the Volta Lake?

Ans: GMA (Ghana Maritime Authority)

Q7. Write in full and correctly the title of the laws governing the operations on the Volta Lake

Ans:

a) Volta River Development (Lake traffic) Regulations, 1974 (L. I 862).

b) Volta River Development (Ammendment) Law, 1987 ( P. N. C. D. I. 171)

Q8. Write in full and correctly the title of the laws governing the operations of the Volta River into a dam

Ans:

a) Volta River Development Act, 1961 Act 46

b) Volta River Development (Ammendment) Act, 1962 (Act No. 95)

c) Volta River Development (Ammendment) Act 1968 (N. I. C. D 268)

d) Volta River Development (Ammendment) Act, 1970, (Act No. 338)

NB: according to the Volta Lake Law

1) a vessel - is any craft that can be used to navigate the lake including water-borne Traffic on the lake and the lake side area

2) The Lake - is the waterways including any water course or river forming part thereof and owned or administered by the vra.

Negative and Positive Impacts Of The Construction of the Akosombo Dam and Subsequent Creation Of The Volta Lake to The People Of Ghana

Positive Impacts

1. Industrial and economic gains

2. Lake Transportation

3. Fishing and new farming activities

4. Tourism and job creation

5. Hydroelectric power generation

Negative Impacts

Human Welfare - need to acquire new settlements by natives due to displacement by the lake and loss of farming lands and graveyard.

Pollution by Aquatic Weeds - leading to declining fish breeding environs and population, obstructions to navigation and breeding habitats for disease causative organisms eg. blackflies, and snails.

Rural & Industrial economies have suffered financial losses as a result of the decimation of the river aquaculture. eg. (Shell fish, clams etc),

Since the creation of the Volta Lake, has led to the rise in water borne diseases such as malaria, river blindness and bilharzia

Reasons To Invest in VLTC

Some economic benefits include:

1. Reducing heavy inter-Regional haulage traffic

2. And the reduction in mad yearly road maintenance costs and

3. Cut down on the national expenditure on importation of haulage vehicles and their spares.

4. Long term, secure and rewarding investment.

Problems & Obstructions on the Volta Lake

1. Recurrent drought

2. Debre Shoals

3. Pollution by weeds

4. Tree Stumps

5. Recurrent floods

6. Sunken vessels

How to Make The Volta Lake More Navigable

1. Dredging (using a dredger) to improve the draft of the mapped transportation routes

2. Removal of all obstructions (tree stumps, weeds and rocks) along the transportation routes

3. Control drought recurrence by creation of man-made tributaries and reservoirs to compensate low water levels during drought period

4. Development of floodgates to control flood reccurence

5. Development of locks systems where needed on the lake

6. Control artificial pollutions by individuals or companies.

Define the following...

Floodgates:

A gate for shutting out or releasing the flow of water over spillways (passage for surplus water) , in connection with the operation of a dam for the purpose of controlling water flow in flood barriers, reservoirs, rivers, and lakes.

Locks:

A lock is a device used for raising and lowering a vessel between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways.

A lock usually consists of a lock chamber, which is used to raise or lower the water level as required. Boats are raised or lowered by filling or emptying the lock chamber of water

Dredging:

A dredge attached to a vessel that is used in the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water bodies. This is a routine necessity in waterways around the world because sedimentation—the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream—gradually fills channels and harbors.

Why has Ghana Inland Waterway Transportation seen as a historical failure?

1. Inland waterway transportation in Ghana has been neglected because people prefer the quick transportation of roads (which are not so important for cargoes).

2. Roads are easier for non-riverine populations to appreciate and thus represent ‘input’ for development

3. As a result there's been an incredible lack of realization of the potential economic gains in possession of our Inland waterways eg. Volta Lake.

State why the Oil basin in western Ghana is a source of hydropolitics between Ghana and Cote d' IVOIRE

Ever since the International boundaries of African States were defined by Colonial Powers, there has never been any defined maritime boundaries amongst African States until the commencement of offshore petroleum exploration and exploitation.

The so-called Ghana-La Côte d’Ivoire maritime boundary dispute, which erupted in 2010, is really a territorial dispute over the ownership of known natural resources in the territorial sea and also following the discovery of oil seeps in the vicinity of the north bank of the Tano Lagoon in 1915, which catalyzed the need to divide it.

Ghana and La Côte d’Ivoire started exploration for oil offshore in their territorial waters and in the Tano basin onshore.

Yet still, at the time Ghana and its immediate neighbour's were yet to implement the provisions of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) 1982 regarding the definition and the delimitation of maritime boundaries.

As such although maps produced by the Survey Department of Ghana put the Tano Lagoon wholly in La Côte d’Ivoire, the eastern portion of the water body is a neutral territory.

As a matter of fact all the above literature are precursors and below are the reasons for the hydropolitics between Ghana and Cote D’voire

1. Economic stability and gains due to; discovery of crude oil and hydrocarbon exploitation.

2. A Source of food and local livelihood due to rich fishery reserves of the Tano Lagoon

3. Reflects cutural heritage and National pride

4. A site for long term profitable Maritime investment eg. Ports, vessels, pipelines etc

5. Tourism leverage

Kinds of Laws and Inland Shipping Conventions

Public law: is the law that governs the legal relationship between governments among themselves and between the government and (legal) persons.

NB: In Inland Shipping, the most important issues governed by national public law may be:

A) Sailing hours and resting times;

B) Crew numbers;

C) The access of barges to transport on the national inland waterways;

D) Access to the profession.

Private law: is the law that governs the legal relationships between (legal) persons.

Civil law: the part of a country's set of laws which is concerned with the private affairs of citizens, for example, marriage, property ownership, and wrongs causing physical injury or injury to property.

Criminal Law: deals with offences that are committed against the society.

Common law: refer to property or other legal rights which do not necessarily require formal registration for enforcing them.

International private law: is the law governing disputes between citizens (human or corporate) of different countries and citizens (human or corporate) against a foreign country.

Mannheim Convention 1868

Officially the Revised Rhine Navigation Act of 17th October 1868

NB: The two most important international public law regulations in relation to inland shipping in Europe are:

1. Mannheim Conventions (signed by Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands and UK)

2. Guidelines and Regulations of the European Union

NB: The principle behind the Mannheim convention is "Freedom of Shipping" for all signatories and European States.

Other benefits includes:

a) No shipping levies

b) Equal treatments for all European States and signatories

c) Great uniformity between the laws

d) Obligation to maintain the Rhine's banks

e) Simplified custom clearance

f) Establishing a commission to monitor these principles eg. CCNR, Shipping Waste Product Treaty

NB: The two ammendments of the Mannheim Convention are the CCNR and the Shipping Waste Product Treaty

The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR)

Established under the Manheim Convention with the main aim to protect the "Freedom of Shipping" and other technical matters such as

1. Equipments of ships

2. The waterway itself and artificial infrastructures on it

3. Technical shipping and transport matters in shipping regulations

4. Social matters relating to crews, sailing times, resting times and labor conditions.

NB: If the CCNR makes an unanimous decision, such is destined for immediate implementation by all EU States and signatories to the Mannheim Convention

However, if the CCNR makes a decision based off majority votes, then such decision is considered a recommendation.

Shipping Waste Product Treaty

Created under the Mannheim Convention and tasked with the responsibility to enforce:

1. The ban on dumping of shipping waste in the river body (including bilge water and cleaning cloths, also known as engine room waste)

2. The ban on dumping of leftover cargo;

3. The ban on dumping of household waste.

Role of the Guidelines and Regulations of the European Union in Inland Shipping

1. The guidelines regarding access to the profession by barge owners.

2. The regulation regarding the structural reorganization of inland shipping - the supply of ships on the market.

3. Cabotage: A regulation that permits barge owners in Inland transportation of goods and passengers in a member state where they are not based.

Role and Features of the CMNI (Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of goods by Inland Waterway)

The main purpose of this convention is to develop uniform civil Inland shipping law. Eg ( A single liability system that applies to all countries where Inland shipping is practiced)

NB: the most important civil law relating to Inland shipping is the cmni

Features of the CMNI

1. Period of application: From taking over until deliver

2. Contract of carriage: Consignment note required if requested

3. Basis of liability: Liability for loss, damage and delay

4. Delay in delivery: Delivery period as agreed period

5. Liability for direct or Consequential loss: Cost for evaluating damage

6. Limitations of liability: 8.33 SDR/kg; Delay 3x value of freight

7. Notice of claim: Apparent loss and damages

Demarcations of the Rhine River

1. Lower Rhine: from the North Sea to Cologne/Bonn;

2. Middle Rhine: from Bonn to Bingen;

3. Upper Rhine - from Bingen to Basel;

4. Hoch Rhine - from Basel to the Boden Sea

Question: Mention two other European rivers apart from the Rhine River?

Ans: the Danube River and Volga Rivers

History and Facts about the Niger River

The Niger River is the main river of Western Africa and it is the third longest river in Africa next to the Nile Congo rivers.

It has a crescent shape and it goes through Guinea, Mali, Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria. Finally, it reaches the sea at a large Delta, called the Niger Delta

NB: AGREEMENT ON THE USE OF THE RIVER NIGER

signed on the 25th November 1964

but came into force on the 12th April, 1966.

The preparatory meetings were held at Niamey – Niger from 24th to 26th October, 1963.

But this treaty was superseded by The Niger Basin Authority Convention of 21st November, 1980.

Question: how many countries are signatories to the Niger River?

Ans: Nine Countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’voire, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria).

Demurrage in Inland Shipping

Demurrage fee is the compensation the carrier receives if the allowed or agreed loading or discharge times are exceeded.

If the loading time is exceeded, the sender pays the demurrage.

If the discharge time is exceeded, the recipient pays the demurrage.

Even if the shipper or the recipient were unable to discharge, load or avail cargo for loading due to force majeur or personal reasons, the carrier is still entitled to demurrage fees.

In relevant legislation, the size of the ship may determine the level of the demurrage fees.

A large ship can transport more cargo than a smaller ship. It therefore costs more for a larger ship to lie still, than for a smaller ship.

If the number of negotiated demurrage days has expired, the skipper may cancel the agreement and possibly claim damages.

Inland shipping law states the following in this regard:

If no goods have been loaded at that time, the carrier may cancel the agreement.

If only a part of the agreed cargo has been delivered, the carrier may cancel the agreement, or may decide to accept the voyage.

If the carrier suffers losses as a result of accepting the voyage, the sender will have to compensate the carrier for these losses.

The demurrage period may also expire before the cargo has been completely discharged. In this case, the carrier is entitled to store the cargo with a third party in an appropriate storage location or barge. The recipient then carriers the risk and the costs.

A second possibility is for the carrier to request a judge to rule that he may keep the cargo in his own ship or to make other arrangements. In this case, too, the resulting costs are to be borne by the recipient.

Inland Shipping Abreviations

ADN - European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway

CCNR - Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine

CMNI - Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of goods by Inland Waterway

STC - Shipping and Transport Conditions

EINU - European Inland Navigation Union

ESO - European Skippers Organization

VLTC - Volta Lake Transport Company Limited

VLTS - Volta Lake Transport System

VRA - Volta River Authority

GMA - Ghana Maritime Authority

CEMT - Conference Europeenne des Ministres de Transport