European inland navigation is committed to a sustainable and competitive economy and is already capable of achieving a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions today, as long as navigable waterways are well maintained. EBU, ESO and INE ask for the full support of the new commissioners to enable inland navigation in Europe to move further along the path towards zero emission, stressing that investments in a green future need to start right now. They call for reliable planning conditions through the creation of lean rules and tailor-made incentives for small businesses. [more]

European inland navigation is committed to a sustainable and competitive economy and is already capable of achieving a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions today, as long as navigable waterways are well maintained. EBU, ESO and INE ask for the full support of the new commissioners to enable inland navigation in Europe to move further along the path towards zero emission, stressing that investments in a green future need to start right now. They call for reliable planning conditions through the creation of lean rules and tailor-made incentives for small businesses.

Three European inland navigation organisations, the European Barge Union (EBU), the European Skippers Organization (ESO) and Inland Navigation Europe (INE) have sent letters of congratulations and support to Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.

The letters spell out the fact that, while transport’s carbon emissions in general are still on the increase, inland navigation emits 3.5 times less CO2 per ton-kilometre than trucks and has reduced its fuel consumption since 1990 by 15 per cent. Already the technology and techniques exist to allow inland navigation to say that a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions is achievable today, as long as navigable waterways are well maintained. The organisations want to apply these techniques rapidly across the entire European fleet. They reiterate the fact that, while the rest of the world is looking for reductions by 2030, inland navigation is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

The letters remind the new environment commissioner that, with regard to air quality, European inland navigation actively campaigned for an earlier introduction on the market of cleaner fuel for inland navigation, as it gives a real boost to eco-innovation and it enables reductions of air pollutants by 90%.

The organisations also stress the importance of evolving techniques in river engineering and ship design which create numerous opportunities to combine living waterways with cost-efficient inland navigation. Rather than the prevailing isolated approaches, the organizations are strongly in favour of cross-sectoral thinking where all functions of the water environment are combined in integrated planning for the benefit of regional communities and economies.

EBU, ESO and INE ask for the full support of the new commissioners to enable inland navigation in Europe to meet its ambitious goals, stressing that investments in a green future need to start right now. They call for an ambitious European inland navigation plan securing reliable planning conditions through the creation of lean rules and tailor-made incentives for small businesses to encourage green innovation.

Source: Inland Navigation Europe, Editorial: Caroline Smith

[close]

From 1 January 2010 vessels transporting containers along the Dutch, German, French and Swiss Rhine have had to report electronically to the authorities responsible for the relevant waterway section. The electronic reporting obligation covers vessels and convoys carrying more than 20 containers, as well as containers containing dangerous goods. The obligation will contribute to improving safety on the river Rhine and creating a seamless information flow between vessels and waterway administrations. [more]

From 1 January 2010 vessels transporting containers along the Dutch, German, French and Swiss Rhine have had to report electronically to the authorities responsible for the relevant waterway section. The electronic reporting obligation covers vessels and convoys carrying more than 20 containers, as well as containers containing dangerous goods. The obligation will contribute to improving safety on the river Rhine and creating a seamless information flow between vessels and waterway administrations.

The Central Commission for the Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) introduced an obligation for electronic reporting on the river Rhine for container vessels. The respective waterway administrations started the full-scale implementation of the reporting obligation on 1 January 2010. Electronic reporting is mandatory for vessels and convoys carrying more than 20 containers or containers containing dangerous goods, independently of the number of containers. In the Netherlands this obligation applies also to the Dutch waterways covered in the Binnenvaart Politie Reglement (BPR, article 9.07).

In order to support crisis control in the event of an accident the waterway authorities need to have correct information and data about the affected vessel and cargo (containers) on board. The introduction of the electronic reporting obligation will improve the quality of the required data and thereby contribute to seamless and safe inland waterway transport.

Ship masters are required to report electronically

• before entering a waterway which is subject to the reporting obligation,
• before starting a trip on a waterway subject to the reporting obligation and/or
• in case the reported data changes during the trip.

For detailed information on the electronic reporting obligation please visit the websites below.

Links:
www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/spiegelnet (Dutch)
www.elwis.de (German)
www.bics.nl (Dutch)
www.binnenvaart.org (Dutch)

Source: Central Commission for the Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR), Rijkswaterstaat, Editorial: Peter Oudenes (Rijkswaterstaat/Vessel Traffic Management Center), Simon Hartl

[close]

The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to Hungary’s decision to exempt fuel used in railway and inland waterway transport from excise duties. By providing this tax relief, the Hungarian government hopes to encourage modal shift from congested roads to these cleaner modes of transport. The decision follows the approach developed in the Commission’s previous practice regarding aid aimed at reducing external costs in the transport sector. [more]

The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to Hungary’s decision to exempt fuel used in railway and inland waterway transport from excise duties. By providing this tax relief, the Hungarian government hopes to encourage modal shift from congested roads to these cleaner modes of transport. The decision follows the approach developed in the Commission’s previous practice regarding aid aimed at reducing external costs in the transport sector.

Rail and inland waterway transport have much lower external costs in terms of accident, climate change and air pollution than road transport. These transport modes also have considerable spare capacity and can play a role in diverting traffic away from congested roads. Since external costs are not charged to road freight transport, it is appropriate to reduce the gap between the costs resulting from use of combined transport operations and those resulting from use of road transport in order to put cleaner transport modes on an equal footing.

Hungary opted for excise duty exemption or refunds for fuel used in inland navigation and railway transport. The measures are in line with the provisions of the Energy taxation directive. The present authorisation covers the period until 30 April 2017. In deciding on the necessity and proportionality of the measures which Hungary introduced, the Commission focussed on checking that external cost savings per ton-kilometre resulting from the use of cleaner transport modes were higher than the corresponding aid amount per ton-kilometre.

The decision follows the approach developed in the Commission’s previous practice regarding aid aimed at reducing external costs in the transport sector.

Source: European Commission, Editorial: Simon Hartl

[close]

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, transport volumes shipped on waterways declined by 19 percent (35 million tons) in the first three quarters of 2009 in comparison to the previous year. In total 151.4 million tons were shipped by inland waterway transport in Germany. Figures for other modes of transport clearly indicate that this is not a singular trend. But apart from the predominant mood of crisis, there are also positive signs of recovery: Semi-finished and finished goods, one of the most important cargo groups for container transport, show a positive trend. [more]

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, transport volumes shipped on waterways declined by 19 percent (35 million tons) in the first three quarters of 2009 in comparison to the previous year. In total 151.4 million tons were shipped by inland waterway transport in Germany. Figures for other modes of transport clearly indicate that this is not a singular trend. But apart from the predominant mood of crisis, there are also positive signs of recovery: Semi-finished and finished goods, one of the most important cargo groups for container transport, show a positive trend.

Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office in Germany, has recently published transport data for the first three quarters of 2009. The figures show a decline of 19 percent equalling 35 million tons for inland waterway transport. In total 151.4 million tons of goods were transported on German waterways from January to September; compared against 186.8 million tons in 2008.

The fact that all modes of transport are severely affected by the economic crisis is no real consolation for the inland navigation sector. 8 out of 10 cargo groups show a substantial decline in transport volumes with iron and other metal being most adversely affected (minus 40 percent). The transport of agricultural goods, however, increased by 18% and compensated to some extent the loss of cargo volumes in other sectors.

The decline in container transport was also less severe than for other types of transport. 1.4 million TEU were transported on German waterways equalling a minus of 13% compared to the previous year. This trend is also confirmed by the figures regarding the transport of semi-finished and finished goods, one of the most important cargo groups for the container business. Recent data of Destatis shows an increase of 7% for this type of cargo in September 2009 (even 9.3% for container transport).

Link:
German Federal Statistical Office

Source: Destatis, www.bonapart.de, Editorial: Simon Hartl

[close]

The European Commission promotes the “Green Corridors” concept in order to improve energy efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint of the transport sector. A conference devoted exclusively to Green Corridors held in Brussels on 9 December 2009, attracted an audience of about 230 people, representing Member States, regions, industry associations, transport operators and cargo owners. Launched at the beginning of 2010, the project SuperGreen will assist the Commission with developing the Green Corridor concept. [more]

The European Commission promotes the “Green Corridors” concept in order to improve energy efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint of the transport sector. A conference devoted exclusively to Green Corridors held in Brussels on 9 December 2009, attracted an audience of about 230 people, representing Member States, regions, industry associations, transport operators and cargo owners. Launched at the beginning of 2010, the project SuperGreen will assist the Commission with developing the Green Corridor concept.

Green Corridors can be defined as long-distance freight transport corridors where advanced technologies and co-modality are employed to improve energy efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint of transport. The term "Green Corridors" was launched by the European Commission in its communication "Freight Transport Logistics Action Plan".

The conference on Green Corridors, held in Brussels on 9 December 2009, had three main aims:

• to give a signal showing the importance that the Commission attaches to the decarbonisation of the transport sector (with focus on the particular challenge of freight transport);
• to take stock of the initiatives on Green Corridors across Europe and
• to discuss issues related to Green Corridors.

The event attracted an audience of about 230 people, representing Member States, regions, industry associations, transport operators and cargo owners. On this occasion, the Commission launched the SuperGreen study, aiming to assist the Commission with developing the Green Corridor concept. SuperGreen will last for three years and has an EU contribution of about 2.6 million euros.

Links:

European Commission

Source: European Commission, Editorial: Simon Hartl

[close]