APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090023-1
E. Inland waterways (C)
A system of inland waterways has been maintained since the 17th century when a canal was completed between Malaren and Hjalmaren lakes in southeastern Sweden. Today the waterways total 1,275 miles, including the navigable channels through the four main lakes: Malaren, Vanern, Pattern, and Hjalmaren. By 1945, road and rail transport had caused the waterways to decline in importance; since 1945, however, some canals have made a comeback and again play some part in providing low-cost transportation for bulk and general cargos. Freight carried on inland waterways in 1970 amounted to 7.6 million short tons, 300,000 tons less than in 1969, and about 90% of this tonnage traveled on two canals, the Trollbatte Kanal and the Sodertalje Kanal. Principal cargos are ore, lumber, coal, cement, metals, and petroleum products. The waterway system is considered adequate for normal requirements.
The inland waterways form two basic networks extending generally east-west in the southern third of the country and providing access to southern Sweden as well as a cross-peninsula route from the Baltic Sea to the Kattegat. The many rivers in the northern part of the country, unsuitable for navigation, are used extensively for rafting timber to sawmills on the Baltic. Development of a waterway system has been relatively easy because nearly 10% of the country's area is covered by lakes. The Dalslands Kanal, leading northwestward out of Vanern, connects with the Norwegian canal system to provide the only international connection on the Swedish waterways.
Most inland waterways are limited to craft of from 150 to 300 tons. Exception are the 52-mile Trollhatte Kanal, the 180-mile main channel of the Malaren-Hjalmaren system, and the 13-mile Sodertalje Kanal, which can accommodate vessels of 2,200 tons, 3,000 tons, and 4,000 tons, respectively. Other principal waterways are the Gota Kanal from the Baltic Sea to Vanern, the Dalslands Kanal system in western Sweden, the Saffle Kanal system, and the routes through the four major lakes. The Gota Kanal is the longest waterway, and the Trollhatte Kanal carries the greatest tonnage. The water-level difference on the Trollhatte Kanal between Vanern and Goteborg is 144 feet.
The major impediment to navigation is ice, which either delays or halts traffic on an average of 3 to 4 months each winter. Icebreakers, normally used on the most important routes, alleviate the situation somewhat. Spring floods also occasionally interrupt the normal flow of traffic. Frequent locks and bridges on some waterways impede traffic and increase transit times.
Numerous structures of various types have been built on the waterways, including at least 23 dams, 165 locks, and 258 bridges. Most of the lock are more than 100 years old and cannot accommodate craft of greater than 300 tons capacity. Most bridges are highway structures with movable spans of the swing or bascule type. Twenty of the dams, build for the generation of electricity, are bypassed with land-cut or natural channels equipped with locks.
There are at least 100 ports of varying sizes and importance along the waterways. Goteborg and Stockholm are the largest, and, although primarily maritime ports, they also handle an impressive amount of inland waterway traffic. Other important waterway ports are Karlstad, Vasteras, Linkoping, Sodertalje, and Trollhatten. Each of these serves largely as a transshipment point and has from 3,000 to 5,000 linear feet of wharfage suitable for alongside berthing of waterway craft; each has adequate handling, storage, and clearance facilities. Sodertalje and Vasteras have important storage facilities for petroleum products.
The inland waterway fleet in 1969 numbered about 725 vessels, ranging in size from small barges to coaster-type vessels and having a total cargo capacity of about 220,000 short tons. It is estimated that some 300 of the 725 vessels are for inland waterway use only and range in capacity from 100 to 300 tons. The fleet is generally adequate for present needs and is well maintained. More than half the fleet is over 30 years old.
Swedish waterways are owned and operated by the national government, by municipalities, and by private companies. The government agency responsible for most of the waterways, both state owned and private, is the Board of Shipping and Navigation of the Ministry of Communications. The Trollhatte and Saffle Kanals, both state owned, are controlled by the State Power Board of the Ministry of Finance and Economy; portions of these waterways are used for generating electricity. The Gota, Dalslands, and Kinda Kanals are the best known of the privately owned waterways.
Some new waterway construction is in progress and more is planned. Extensive improvements to the Trollhatte Kanal have begun, and the first phase of the project involves widening the Karls Grad section. Total cost is to approximate US$10 million, and work is to be completed by late 1974. The canal is to be navigable by 3,000-ton vessels, compared with its present 1,500-ton limitation. The Swedish Government has recently approved a program to provide for deepening the shipping channels in Malaren lake by 4.2 feet to insure a channel depth of 22.3 feet from the Sodertalje lock to Stockholm and to the important inland power of Vasteras. Completion of the project will require 3 years.
Characteristics of the principal waterways are listed in Figure 4.
10
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090023-1
