On 18 March 2010 the European Barge Union (EBU) organised its annual seminar which this time was dedicated to the Future of Transport-discussion and the role of inland navigation within the new European transport policy. EBU’s President Philippe Grulois officially released the recent outcomes of the reflection group on inland navigation “REGINA” to Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, Belgian State Secretary Etienne Schouppe, and MEP and TRAN-Rapporteur on the Future of Transport, Matthieu Grosch, who with their assistance underlined the importance of the inland navigation industry within the overall European transport policy and system. Some 140 participants followed the key note speeches as well as the panel discussion, for which Matthias Ruete, Director General DG MOVE, set the scene. [more]

On 18 March 2010 the European Barge Union (EBU) organised its annual seminar which this time was dedicated to the Future of Transport-discussion and the role of inland navigation within the new European transport policy. EBU’s President Philippe Grulois officially released the recent outcomes of the reflection group on inland navigation “REGINA” to Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, Belgian State Secretary Etienne Schouppe, and MEP and TRAN-Rapporteur on the Future of Transport, Matthieu Grosch, who with their assistance underlined the importance of the inland navigation industry within the overall European transport policy and system. Some 140 participants followed the key note speeches as well as the panel discussion, for which Matthias Ruete, Director General DG MOVE, set the scene.

EBU’s president Philippe Grulois stressed the importance of a sustainable and efficient European transport policy. Such a policy requires a strong inland navigation sector. The environmental and social challenges of a future European Transport Policy can be much better addressed by making full use of the environmental friendliness and unexploited potentials of inland waterway transport. Prioritisation and rebalance of cargo flows must lead to a better use of the existing resources in a more efficient and effective way. A concentration on modes that are beneficial for the entire transport policy thus deserves support.

In this respect an informal expert group, facilitated as from autumn 2009 by the PLATINA platform, has been created to start further deliberations with regard to the improvement of European cooperation and coordination in the field of inland navigation.  This reflection group on inland navigation named ‘REGINA’ – in which key experts from the industry, the river commissions as well as from the public administrations were involved - recently finished its deliberations. In its conclusions ‘REGINA’ stresses the need for a strong positioning of inland waterway transport in the European Transport Policy. This has to be achieved through comprehensive and concerted action of all involved stakeholders. Against the background of the many and varied identified tasks the reflection group concluded that the following measures be necessary:

• Intensified cooperation between all stakeholders by establishing a permanent, structured and intensive cooperation between the competent institutions;
• Permanent European IWT policy by setting up a comprehensive European IWT strategy and programme as a permanent follow-up of the current Action Programme NAIADES;
• Financial and human resources by providing the financial support of the Community level required to implement a permanent European IWT programme;
• Seamless transition of the ongoing NAIADES actions by securing continuity between the present and future actions.

The experts believe it is the right time to address these issues now and to recommend solutions to strengthen the role of inland navigation within the Future of Transport discussion in favour of the economical development of European society. EBU’s President Grulois - by strongly supporting the conclusions and recommendations of ‘REGINA’ - officially released the outcome of these deliberations and handed over the first copies of the ‘REGINA’-recommendations to Vice-President and Commissioner Kallas, State Secretary Schouppe acting as incoming President of the Transport Council and Rapporteur of the Future of Transport discussion within the European Parliament, Mr. Grosch.

Download

 REGINA final report
   (2010 | Language: English | Format: PDF | Size: 2.9 MB)

Source: European Barge Union (EBU), Editorial: Gert-Jan Muilerman

[close]

The positive trend regarding the number of apprenticeships in the German inland navigation sector continued in 2009. After 477 apprentices in the year 2008, a total number of 498 apprenticeships were registered in 2009. This 20 years record shows that jobs in inland navigation become increasingly popular for young people and that inland shipping companies are willing to invest in education and training for the future workforce. [more]

The positive trend regarding the number of apprenticeships in the German inland navigation sector continued in 2009. After 477 apprentices in the year 2008, a total number of 498 apprenticeships were registered in 2009. This 20 years record shows that jobs in inland navigation become increasingly popular for young people and that inland shipping companies are willing to invest in education and training for the future workforce.

Working on an inland vessel requires technical as well as social skills. This might be one reason why jobs in the inland navigation sector  seem to become increasingly attractive for young people across Germany. Recent figures regarding the number of apprenticeships prove that the interest in carriers on inland vessels has reached a 20 years record.

Due to the current age structure of its personnel and its multi-faceted scope of tasks, the inland navigation sector provides interesting carrier opportunities for young people. Job profiles range from being captain on a ship over working as a dispatcher for a shipping company to owning and operating a private ship.

“Investments in the qualification of skilled personnel are particularly important in times of economic crisis, in order to to ensure the future viability of the sector”, says Volker Seefeldt, president of the German Employers` Association of Inland Navigation (AdB). The Duisburg based association provides accommodation and practical trainings on board “Schulschiff RHEIN”, a floating vessel for apprentices who attend the inland shipping college in Duisburg for 3 months.

Source: Arbeitgeberverband der deutschen Binnenschifffahrt e.V., Editorial: Katja-Raphaela Wenkel, Simon Hartl

[close]

The second meeting of the follow-up to the “Joint Statement on Guiding Principles for the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin” took place in in Zagreb on 9-10 March 2010. The meeting was attended by high-level officials of the International Commission on the Sava River Basin (ISRBC), the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the Danube Commission (DC), the European Commission, national administrations dealing with navigation, environmental protection and sustainable development issues, as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations. [more]

The second meeting of the follow-up to the “Joint Statement on Guiding Principles for the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin” took place in in Zagreb on 9-10 March 2010. The meeting was attended by high-level officials of the International Commission on the Sava River Basin (ISRBC), the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the Danube Commission (DC), the European Commission, national administrations dealing with navigation, environmental protection and sustainable development issues, as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations.

The meeting is the continuation of joint efforts regarding the implementation of the Joint Statement, which is the result of interdisciplinary process run by the ISRBC, ICPDR and Danube Commission. The “Joint Statement on Guiding Principles for the Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin” was launched on 11 March, as a result of a year-long process that involved representatives of over fifty different stakeholders from the Danube River Basin. The Joint Statement provides guiding principles and criteria for the planning and implementation of inland waterway projects that reconcile the interests of navigation and the environment. The countries of the Danube basin have committed to utilize these principles in future project planning thus creating a new basis for the sustainable development of inland navigation.

The gathered stakeholders strengthened their cross-sectoral communication and cross-border cooperation, by exchanging the information on bottlenecks at the national and regional level, as well as on good practices and experiences in the field of inland navigation and environmental protection. Mrs. Karla Peijs, EC coordinator for inland waterways, highlighted the great achievements made in the last three years. “The guidelines of the Joint Statement as well as the follow-up activities are living proof that the dialogue between between all different stakeholders is working”, said Mrs Peijs. 

At the ocassion of the meeting, the draft PLATINA Manual on Good Practices in Sustainable Waterway Planning was also presented to the audience. The manual is designed as a key tool providing guidance for the planning and implementation of waterway projects, in the Danube region and in other European river basins. The manual offers general advice on how to organise and implement a balanced and integrated waterway infrastructure planning process. The early integration of stakeholders and environmental objectives and wide communication are essential for successful planning process. The final version of the manual is expected to be published in May 2010.

The Joint Statement can be downloaded at www.savacommission.org/basic_docs 

Source: International Commission on the Sava River Basin (ISRBC), International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), Danube Commission (DC), Editorial: Gert-Jan Muilerman

[close]

On 6 March 2010 the European Commission has issued mandatory specifications for electronic ship reporting. The technical specifications are based on the EU RIS Directive 2005/44/EC which shall ensure harmonised RIS across the Community’s main waterways. The regulation on electronic reporting is binding and has to be implemented within 30 months in those Member States where electronic ship reporting is required by national or international law. [more]

On 6 March 2010 the European Commission has issued mandatory specifications for electronic ship reporting. The technical specifications are based on the EU RIS Directive 2005/44/EC which shall ensure harmonised RIS across the Community’s main waterways. The regulation on electronic reporting is binding and has to be implemented within 30 months in those Member States where electronic ship reporting is required by national or international law.

In order to support traffic management and accident abatement authorities need to have correct information and data about the affected vessel and cargo on board. The introduction of electronic ship reporting improves the quality of the required data thereby contributing to seamless and safe inland waterway transport.

To harmonise reporting systems and requirements across main European waterways the European Commission published mandatory specifications on 6 March 2010. The regulation is binding for all EU Member States and Candidate Countries with connected inland waterways.

The Commission regulation is based on the EU RIS Directive 2005/44/EC and upon the work carried out by the RIS expert group Electronic Reporting International. The expert group is lead by Jos van Splunder, RWS (NL) and composed of representatives of the authorities of the Member States responsible for the implementation of electronic ship reporting, and official members from other governmental bodies as well as observers from the industry.

Download

 Commission Regulation (EU) No 164/2010 on the technical specification for electronic ship reporting in inland navigation
(2010 | Language: English | Format: PDF | Size: 5.0 MB)

Link

 www.ris.eu

Source: European Commission, Editorial: Andreas Bäck, Simon Hartl

[close]

Weighing almost 20 tons, an Airbus wing was transported from the Port of Hamburg to the inland port of Dresden-Friedrichstadt on a barge this February. This transport showed once more that inland vessels due to their size and loading capacity are very suitable for shipping goods with unusual sizes and weights. The airplane part was finally transported by truck to Dresden airport. [more]

Weighing almost 20 tons, an Airbus wing was transported from the Port of Hamburg to the inland port of Dresden-Friedrichstadt on a barge this February.  This transport showed once more that inland vessels due to their size and loading capacity are very suitable for shipping goods with unusual sizes and weights. The airplane part was finally transported by truck to Dresden airport.

The German inland port of Dresden-Friedrichstadt is specialised in the transshipment of heavy and special cargo such as turbines, engines and machine parts. However, in February a real unusual transport was carried out on behalf of a German forwarding company: The wing of an Airbus A400 was shipped from Hamburg to Dresden by inland barge on the river Elbe.

An overall weight of almost 20 tons and dimensions of 42.4 x 8.73 x 2.83 m predestined this load for inland waterway transport. For the last section of its journey to Dresden airport the airplane part was lifted on a truck in the inland port. The airplane’s nose and fuselage were already transported to the airport by an air freighter in January.

Link

Sächsische Binnenhäfen Oberelbe GmbH

Source: ShortSeaShipping Inland Waterway Promotion Center (SPC), Editorial: Simon Hartl

[close]