Fährbar

Fährbar is a German adjective describing a watercourse that can be navigated by boats and ships. A fährbar waterway meets technical and safety criteria that allow regular waterborne transportation, including adequate depth, width, and clearance for hulls and masts, as well as suitable currents and bed conditions. The term is commonly used in hydrology, cartography, and inland navigation to indicate navigability.

Etymology and usage: Fährbar comes from fahren, “to travel by water or vehicle,” with the suffix -bar meaning “capable of.” Synonyms include schiffbar and navigierbar; fährbar is often used for a range of craft, from recreational boats to commercial vessels, whereas schiffbar is more common in formal, regulatory contexts.

Assessment and limitations: Navigability depends on depth, cross-section, bed stability, sedimentation, and seasonal water levels. Obstructions such as dams, weirs, rapids, and submerged hazards can reduce or block fährbarkeit. Dredging, locks, and pilotage can modify a waterway’s status. Some rivers are fährbar only during certain seasons or water levels.

Examples: The Rhine and many Central European waterways contain fährbar segments that support traffic for both commerce and recreation. Canals like the Mittellandkanal have designated fährbare sections. Maps, nautical charts, and administrative reports label segments as fährbar or not, guiding planning and navigation.

Legal context: In German water law, schiffbarkeit is a related concept describing the capacity of a watercourse to carry ships; fährbar is a broader, descriptive term often used in planning and publication contexts.