WP1 | Markets

Introduction
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Inland navigation has definitely outgrown the status of a bulk mover and successfully established itself in higher-value markets. Despite these successes, some other market developments have clearly fallen short of expectations, e.g. the container transport in Central and Eastern Europe. Because the information that target groups have about inland waterway transport is not always complete, correct or communicated, PLATINA aims at raising knowledge and thus indirectly changing behaviour.

Several difficulties need to be overcome so that inland navigation can achieve a higher share in growing transport markets. Apart from the difficulty to access capital for the establishment of new services, existing good practices in inland waterway transport are not disseminated on a large scale. This results in a limited awareness of its real opportunities for potential customers.

Furthermore, administrative and regulatory barriers may complicate or even hinder the establishment of new services and market initiatives. Administrative procedures must be assessed to consider simplification or removal and to establish a level playing field between Member States and between modes of transport.

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Work Package leader biography
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Gert-Jan Muilerman is team manager and senior project manager at via donau. Since 2008 he is project coordinator for the PLATINA project.
Gert-Jan holds a Ph.D. in business logistics from Delft University of Technology and has experience in transport economics and transport modelling. At via donau he was responsible for the scientific coordination of the Thematic Network SPIN - Strategies to Promote Inland Navigation (FP5 - 2002/2005). Among others he was also involved as an expert in the PINE study and the IRIS Europe project. He is a native speaker of Dutch; fluent in English and German.

3 questions to Gert-Jan Muilerman

• What do you like most about your work?
  The great thing about our work is that most of our initiatives and plans generally do not end up in a drawer but usually get implemented. It's most rewarding to see that our work actually makes a difference.
• If you could have one wish for inland navigation, what would it be?
  There are number of barriers, which currently prevent inland waterway transport from taking up a more prominent role in the European transport system. I think with NAIADES and the PLATINA we have identified the most important issues at hand. I would wish - and I am convinced - that in three years from now we will have solved some of these barriers.
• What does PLATINA do for you?
  In large projects like PLATINA, there is just never a dull moment. I must admit that PLATINA sometimes feels like doing the plate spinning act in a Chinese circus. But in the end it is very rewarding to see that many of the activities, which we identified and defined just a few years ago, have meanwhile materialised and have been taken up by others.