1. Overview of river transport

1.1 The world's great navigable rivers and their multiple uses

In addition to their navigation function, major navigable rivers have a hydraulic function (the possibility of taking in or releasing water), a hydroelectric production function when water reservoirs are built on them; they also offer irrigation possibilities for agriculture, and their pleasure boating function, or even more broadly their tourist function, is highly developed. Added to this are cultural traditions, as highlighted by the international NGO IAGF (Initiatives pour l'aménagement des grands fleuves) created by the Compagnie nationale du Rhône (CNR) to highlight France's own experience with the development of the Rhône.

As a result, the navigation function is often neglected in favor...