Problems and prospects of development of inland waterways of Russia

This article reveals the main problems that reduce the investment attractiveness of inland waterways (IWW) of the country and inhibit the process of innovative development of inland water transport (IWT). Recommendations on increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of the use of IWW are presented. The reasons for underdevelopment of container transportation, the current state of affairs in the field of cargo containerization in inland waterways are analyzed and some proposals for its improvement are given. Attention is paid to the importance of the role of inland mixed vessels (river-sea) in container transportation, the existence of which will ensure the possibility of transporting containers in the interior of Russia, inside the country, and to other countries through the IWW, thereby reducing the environmental load and the cost of transportation of goods. There is made a conclusion about necessity and importance of state support of IWW development, elimination of sections reducing efficiency of fleet exploitation, perspectivity of development of modern and effective transport infrastructure providing acceleration of commodity flows and reducing transport costs in a balanced and cohesive transport system.