The French natural and man-made waterways network is the largest in Europe[REF] extending to over of which (VNF, ), the French navigation authority, manages the navigable sections.
Approximately 20% of the network is suitable for commercial boats of over 1000 tonnes[REF] and the VNF has an ongoing programme of maintenance and modernisation to increase depth of waterways, widths of locks and headroom under bridges to support France's strategy of encouraging freight onto water [REF].