The Czech Government is committed to development of the transport potential of its navigable rivers the Elbe (Labe) and Vltava, both of which were developed for high-capacity inland shipping from about 1900. The route initially opened to Prague was designed for 700-tonne barges drawing up to 1.8m, with pairs of 11m wide locks. Between the wars Czechoslovakia continued the Elbe canalisation from the Vltava confluence upstream to Kolín, with locks 85 by 12m to accommodate 1000-tonne barges. Since the 1960s, new 190 by 12m locks for push-tows have gradually been added, and the upper limit of navigation extended to Chvaletice and Pardubice. However, navigation is for the time being limited to Chvaletice, pending completion of the new lock and weir at Prelouc…

Information about the network : http://www.plavba.cz