Inland navigation is hardly ever used to transport cargo in cities. In most urban areas, it is performed almost exclusively via road transport, with the virtual exclusion of rail and inland transport. Research and implementation projects in several European cities have shown that employing inland navigation is a viable alternative for road transport in urban areas. The research involved a case study of transporting the same number of 40-foot containers by inland waterway and road and then comparing the results in terms of transport time, transport costs, and carbon dioxide emissions between two metropolitan areas in Poland. The article shows that River Information Services (RIS) system can contribute to improving freight transport efficiency not only on longer routes, but also in urban and inter-urban conditions. The findings were that inland shipping is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but transport takes much longer and is not always possible due to insufficient waterway infrastructure. The paper can be used as a road map to proceed with new approach to planning urban and inter-urban logistics, with the use of inland navigation supported by the RIS system. The study delivers evidence that the main benefits of using RIS for urban logistics are: optimization of the cargo route, improved supervision and control of cargo transport, optimization of inter-branch transport, optimization of the use of fleet, more efficient use of technical infrastructure of waterways, combination of many recipients/senders into one transport, and reduction of administrative barriers.

This study explores the potential of inland navigation as a key component of Poland’s sustainable transportation strategy, focusing on the Opole–Szczecin route. It emphasizes inland waterways as an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to road and rail transport, potentially revitalizing local economies and reducing dependency on more traditional transport modes. The use of the River Information Service (RIS) system is highlighted as to its role in enhancing the logistical efficiency and safety of inland water transport. The research includes a comparative analysis of cargo transport on the Opole–Szczecin route, using road, rail, and inland-waterway options, revealing the advantages of inland-waterway transport in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental impact. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and opportunities for the development of inland navigation in Poland, advocating for greater integration with other transport branches through innovative technologies like RIS.

Navigation marking is an essential element of inland waterways. The visibility, location, and quality of navigation signs determine navigation conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify opportunities to improve navigation safety on inland waterways in Poland. Particular attention was paid to Polish legislation and international regulations in order to identify discrepancies and propose amendments to individual legal acts. These recommendations were preceded by field studies of selected navigation signs, including assessments of their legibility at night and in conditions of limited visibility. On this basis, and drawing on many years of practical experience on navigable waterways in Poland and Western European countries, the authors developed original proposals for the use of navigation signs, including designs for floating navigation signs and bridge clearance signs, as well as concepts for navigation marking plans for selected infrastructure components related to inland waterways. The proposed measures are expected to improve the recognisability and consistency of navigation markings, which may contribute to better operating conditions for inland waterway users, including both professional inland navigation operators (freight and passenger) and individual recreational users.

Inland shipping is one of the most neglected transport modes in Eastern Europe. Despite its indisputable advantages, such as the ability to transport goods of high weight and volume at the lowest unit transportation cost, low environmental impact and thus the lowest external costs, inland shipping does not play a significant role as a transport branch in many countries of the European Union. This is primarily due to the poor condition of the waterway infrastructure, the maintenance of which has not been properly financed for decades. In the public’s opinion, IWT is often considered an outdated form of transportation that does not meet the current needs of the transportation market. This article aims to indicate that the RIS system is an important tool for managing inland waterways and inland shipping. Therefore, it is also an important innovation which can redefine the role of IWT in the transport system. RIS can contribute to improving the logistic systems and transport safety. The literature analysis, descriptive statistics and taxonomic analysis were carried out to present the importance of the RIS system and its innovativeness. The study contributes to the discussion on the impact of modern information services and IT-tools on inland shipping and its role in modern transport systems. Inland waterborne transport is the missing mode, which could supplement the infrastructure deficits, and with the use of the RIS system, interconnect inland shipping into the transportation chains.