Freycinet gauge
The Freycinet gauge () is a standard governing the dimensions of the locks of some canals, put in place as a result of a law passed during the tenure of Charles de Freycinet as minister of public works of France, dating from 5 August 1879. The law required the size of lock chambers to be increased to a length of , a width of and a minimum water depth of , thus allowing 300 to 350 tonne barges to pass through. Consequently, boats and barges, such as the péniche, built to the Freycinet gauge could not exceed in length, in breadth  and a draught of . Bridges and other structures built across the canals are required to provide of clearance. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries many French canals were modernised to conform to the Freycinet standard. By 2001, of navigable waterways in France corresponded to the Freycinet gauge, accounting for 23% of waterborne traffic. European Classification. The Freycinet gauge corresponds to the Classification of European Inland Waterways class I gauge.