Recently, just before the start of the 2020 navigation season on the Żuławy Loop, alarming information on the operation of the locks appeared. At weekends, the locks will only be open after prior notification.
The Regional Water Management Board in Gdańsk published a navigation announcement about the limited working time of the locks on the Nogat and Szkarpawa rivers. The limitations apply to the facilities in Gdańska Głowa, Biała Góra, Szonowo, Rakowiec and Michałów. This year, the opening hours of the locks are different from those in previous years. Namely, the locks operate from 9:00 to 17:00. At weekends, a 12-hour notice must be given to the operator.
Both sailing communities and local authorities have asked the Regional Water Management Board in Gdańsk to change the operation mode of the hydro-technical facilities, which includes relinquishing the obligation of prior notification of the intention to use the locks on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. An appeal in this matter was also made by the Self-Government of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, which for many years has been actively supporting activities for the development of sailing infrastructure and improvement of navigation conditions on waterways. In addition, senators of the Republic of Poland from the Pomorskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeships, who are close to the matters of boaters in the above mentioned water areas, sent a statement to the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and to the President of the Polish Water Management Authority on the operation of the locks on the Żuławy Loop and the inclined planes on the Elbląg Canal.
The following is the text of the statement: