Can Larger Ships Sail Through Paris?

Traversing the river Seine in Paris is challenging for inland ships due to the density and diversity of local traffic (cargo and passengers) and the variety of manoeuvres that are encountered. On top of that, there is a high number of historically important bridges, where traffic has to pass underneath narrow arches, while taking into account delicate current conditions on a bending trajectory. Some decades ago, regulations concerning the maximum ship dimensions depending on the water level of the river were put in place to ensure the safety of navigation. However, with a growing interest in inland waterway transportation (economic, environmental and logistical advantages compared to rail or road transport) and with new types of ships plying the waterway, the question arose whether the regulations are still up to date. To this end, the waterway authority, Voies navigables de France (VNF), commissioned a study to assess the relevance of these regulations when present and future vessels of varying types and dimensions cross Paris. The study was carried out by the Maritime Technology Division at Ghent University in cooperation with International Marine and Dredging Consultants (IMDC), Flanders Hydraulics Research and Siradel. This poster presents how ship manoeuvring simulators are used to assess the maximum dimensions of ships crossing the Seine in Paris. Real time simulations were carried out by skippers familiar with the crossing of Paris and the analysis is based on their feedback as well as a selection of safety criteria. The simulations have shown that the main bottlenecks are related to the succession of passages under narrow bridges with non-aligned openings. Maximum water levels for which safe passage is possible, were determined for each ship type and compared with the actual regulations. Finally, recommendations have been formulated, which were then discussed with VNF and the stakeholders