Inland waterway transport in the Pearl River Basin, China

The worldwide concerns about global warming and highway traffic congestion are among the incentives to revitalize Inland waterway shipping in some developed countries. In contrast, In developing countries such as China, highway constructions are still considered as the most efficient way to bring economic prosperity Into a region. This paper argues that among the multiple causes that led to the underperformance of inland waterway transport (iwt) In the Pearl River Basin (PRB), the lack of government support to facilitate and promote the iwr-based intermodal system Is critical. After comparing the iwt in eight countries, we highlight two major characteristics for the PRB: (1) since the 1990s iwt has experienced, a unique development trajectory - moving from push-barges to small motorized vessels, which is the reverse of the current trend in most developed countries, on account of the "coastllization" of the export-oriented economies; (2) the lack of investment and proper governance has led to physical bottle-necks and to a deterioration in the quality of the navigational channels in the lower reaches, and other operational barriers have further weakened iwt.