In the 1970s and 1980s, the Odra River in Poland was a fully navigable river. Inland water transport thrived, with barges carrying coal and sand, primarily for energy and construction purposes. Today, inland shipping in Poland is virtually obsolete. Trains and trucks transport goods much faster and more efficiently.
Additionally, growing environmental regulations, especially in the face of climate change, prolonged droughts, and increasingly low water levels, mean that the crews of these old vessels may well be the last to sail the Odra.
Zbigniew (Zbyszek) Laskowski, born in 1961 in Poland is an exceptionally strong, kind, and courteous man. He loved his work as an inland waterway sailor and was irreplaceable, often carrying out even the hardest physical tasks on his own. When I asked how long he planned to keep sailing, he would reply with a smile:
“Until the end of the world and one day longer.”
Why did you retire or why are you still working?
Why did you retire?
Why are you still working?
Unfortunately, due to health issues I had to stop working unexpectedly. I suffered a torn bicep and a mild stroke. My condition has since improved, but I never returned to the ships.
Life expectancy 2023
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