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EFIP’s President Willy Robijns presented good environmental port practices at the Danube Summit in Linz
From 31 May till 2 June the 5th Danube Summit took place in Linz (Austria). EFIP was participating in the exhibition. In addition EFIP’s President Willy Robijns gave a presentation on good environmental practices in European inland Ports during the roundtable discussion on “inland navigation development and environmental protection- trade off or win-win”.
Willy Robijns gave eight examples of good green practices in inland ports. To start with he showed how some inland ports, as for instance Lille, are starting to measure their environmental and carbon footprint. Moreover the Federation as such is actively participating in the debate on the internalisation of external costs. Thirdly EFIP’s President gave the example of the “Ecocomparateur” of the ports of Paris, an instrument that can be consulted on the website of the Parisian port which makes it possible to make compare 100% road transport and combined transport in terms of environmental costs, time of transport and costs for the company. Robijns continued with explaining how different inland ports (Paris,Llille, Lliège, London,…) have developed expertise in transporting urban waste by water. Other examples given were the shore side electricity project “Walstroom” from the Dutch Federation of Inland Ports and the plan of Rotterdam to reduce port fees for cleaner barges as from 2011. Furthermore EFIP was explaining that inland ports are more and more including green conditions in the concessions. A final example showed related to the energy efficiency of port buildings. The port of Ghent had just received one of the European Green Building Awards for the port building that they are using since 2005.
In his concluding remarks, Willy Robijns was emphasizing that to start with inland ports are contributing to sustainable transport since they are functioning as the access gate to environmental transport modes (inland waterway transport, rail and maritime transport). Inland ports are however not resting on their laurels and are investing a lot in greener solutions.
EFIP participates in international workshop on the river Elbe in Decin
“Allow more shipping on the River Elbe”. Inspired by this message the students of the school of Pirna in Germany and Děčín in the Czech Republic decorated ten ships that they handed over to political and economic decision makers at an international workshop that was organised for the eighth time by the Saxon Port- and Transport Association together with the Czech Consulate General in Dresden and the Chamber of Commerce Elbe/Oder in the light of the European week.
The theme of this year’s workshop, being held on 4 May in the beautiful Schloss of Decin, was the review of the European TEN-T policy. The participants in the workshop stressed the importance of giving more possibilities to inland waterway transport and highlighted that to optimalise the freight transport between the seaports and the Elbe-Euroregion in a sustainable and economic way, the development of efficient railways needs to be completed by an Elbe-river that is navigable the whole year round.
EFIP participated in the meeting. Isabelle Ryckbost pointed out that improving the navigability of the river Elbe fitted into the rationale of the TEN-T review. As a matter of fact one of the aims of the TEN-T review is to take into account the new EU territory and to better link East and West. By upgrading the Elbe, one would also improve the inland waterways link between the European capitals Berlin and Prague. At the same time, even if the Elbe itself is not part of the TEN-T priority project n°22, it is very much linked to it and could enrich this rail project by linking rail with water. In such way it would enhance the comodal character of this rail priority project and decongest the Děčín Valley. Picture: f.l.t.r.: Captain Detlev Bütow (Vice President Bundesverbandes öffntlichter Binnenhäfen), Isabelle Ryckbost (Director EFIP), Ing. Jiří Aster (Port of Děčín) and Dr. Bernd Rohde (Ministerialdirigent Saxon State Ministry for Economy, Labour and transport).
The Port of Sevilla hosts the European Federation of Inland Ports
From 25 to 27 March the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) and its members were coming together in Sevilla to hold their Executive Committee meeting.
 At the Executive Committee meeting, the EFIP members were welcoming again the Dutch Association of Inland Ports (Nederlandse Vereniging Binnenhavens) who decided to join EFIP again after a suspension of their membership during the last two years.
Mr Bert Luijendijk, Vice President of NVB said: ”We see the increasing importance of inland ports in our country. The same is happening in the whole of Europe. So it is important that the Dutch inland ports are present in Brussels through their membership of EFIP.”
“I am very happy to count the Dutch Association of Inland Ports among our members. The Dutch have a long standing tradition in inland waterway transport and can therefore play an important pioneer role when it comes to developing new solutions. This was proved already today, when our Dutch member was informing EFIP about their initiative regarding a unique system for shore power supply in inland ports”, added EFIP’s Director Isabelle Ryckbost.
EFIP’s Executive Committee further decided to create an observer members status for inland ports from outside Europe willing to be involved in EFIP’s activities. The National River Port Management Company, Egypt’s leading operator of river ports will become the first observer member of EFIP.
Mr Michael Power, CEO NRPMC said: “NRPMC is a start up operation to rejuvenate inland water transportation along the river Nile in Egypt, and managing our business to the best international standards is a core principal to us. Being associated with EFIP is a major step forward for us in achieving these goals, which coincidentally are also entirely consistent with the objectives of a joint action between Egypt and the EU to improve inland waterway transportation in Egypt under the European neighbbourhood partnership.”
“It is important that inland ports are looking beyond Europe’s borders. Exchanging experiences and knowhow with emerging inland ports along the Nile seems in that respect very interesting for both EFIP’s members and our new observer member”, said EFIP’s President Willy Robijns.
EFIP also launched its new website: www.inlandports.eu. Apart from a complete restyling, the new website now also includes space for its members to present their port and activities and to report on projects or recent developments.
Moreover EFIP held in Sevilla a discussion on the different methods of calculating the carbon footprint and the external costs of transport with representatives of the European Commission’s DG move and its European Research Centre.
And of course the EFIP delegation visited the Port of Sevilla and the recently opened lock with Mr Fausto Arroyo, Director of the Port.
“Being members for many years we welcome EFIP to Sevilla at a very special occasion. In 2010 the improvement of the navigation access to Sevilla port and the new lock will allow innovative solutions to the logistic market in South Spain”, according to Mr Fausto Arroyo about EFIP’s visit to Sevilla.
For more information, please contact Isabelle Ryckbost, Director EFIP: 00.32.475.35.76.93.
or by mail:
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The Port of Sevilla hosts the European Federation of Inland Ports
From 25 to 27 March the European Federation of Inland ports and its members are coming together in Sevilla to hold their Executive Committee meeting.
 Highlights of the meeting are the discussion with Mrs Magdalena Alvarez, Spanish Member of the European Parliament. In Sevilla, EFIP is welcoming back the Dutch Association of Inland Ports. EFIP will also further decide on opening up the observer status for non European inland ports and accepting the National River Port Management Company, Egypt’s leading operator of river ports, as an observer member of EFIP. Finaly, in Sevilla, the members of the Executive committee are discussing the different methods of calculating the carbon footprint and the external costs of transport with representatives of the European Commission’s DG move and its European Research Centre.
Mr Fausto Arroyo, Director of the Port will take the EFIP members on a visit of the port and the new lock.
EFIP calls on EU Transport Council to integrate urban freight and urban logistics in the urban mobility debate
Brussels, 11 February 2010 – Tomorrow, the EU Ministers of Transport, gathered in an informal Council meeting in La Coruna, are holding a working session on urban mobility. Urban mobility is one of the priorities of the Spanish presidency in the field of transport. The discussion is the first response from the Council to the Commission Action plan on Urban mobility that came out in September last year.
 The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) calls on the Ministers of transport to integrate the urban freight transport and urban logistics issues in this debate. EFIP fears that the “urban mobility” debate at EU level will be too much focused on passenger transport issues. “It would be a missed opportunity if the Council is only debating passenger and public transport issues. A growing urbanization means not only a challenge for passenger transport but also and even more important a growing demand of goods to be delivered in and out of towns and a need for urban logistics. To be successful, the EU debate on urban mobility must look and integrate all aspects and all players. If goods can not move well in and out of towns, neither will the people”, says EFIP’s Director Isabelle Ryckbost
Inland ports can contribute in finding sustainable solutions for the distribution of goods to and in the town. “Having an inland ports in your town should be considered as an asset for the town. Too often, however inland urban ports are seen as a disturbance for the town. Local authorities prefer to reserve the river banks for panoramic, real estate or recreational purposes. By doing this cities risk to give away a part of the solution to their congestion problems. It is time to raise the alarm”, adds Isabelle Ryckbost.
In its response to the Commission’s Action plan on urban mobility , EFIP asks mainly:
- to revalorize the logistic benefits of an inland ports in a town
- to restore the balance between logistic, housing and leisure needs when deciding on the use of river banks
- the introduction of “smart pricing” for the removal of urban waste in order to safeguard the existing and attract new sustainable transport solutions in that field
- the local authorities to involve port authorities when preparing urban mobility plans.
For more information: contact Isabelle Ryckbost: +32.2.219.82.07 or +32.475.35.76.93.
15th Anniversary marks a new start for EFIP
From 15 till 17 October the members of EFIP are gathering in Mantova to join EFIP’s General Assembly meeting. Created in 1994, EFIP, the European Federation representing nearly 200 inland ports in 18 countries from the European Union, Moldova, Switzerland and Ukraine, is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. This 15th Anniversary means a new start for EFIP.
In spring EFIP decided to set up a joined office with the European Sea ports Organisation. At the same time, EFIP’s secretariat was completely renewed. At the General Assembly meeting in Mantova, EFIP’s new Director gave a first overview of achievements and presented her working programme for the next year to the EFIP members.
“I believe we can conclude that EFIP is fully operational again. During the General Assembly meeting, Isabelle Ryckbost presented a working programme that reflects very well the priorities of the inland ports at the moment. The new director attaches a lot of importance to linking the ports themselves to the institutions and increase the visibility of the inland ports. We can only welcome that”, stated EFIP’s President Willy Robijns.
Furthermore a discussion was held on the internalisation of external costs of transport. Isabelle Ryckbost summarizes the position of EFIP as follows “EFIP wants to participate actively in this debate. We see in a step by step approach the best way to unlock this difficult dossier.
We should start with some externalities and work on the basis of pilot projects.
The internalisation should only relate to transport and aims above all at making the different transport modes more comparable”.
Furthermore, the General Assembly welcomed the Port of Ghent (Belgium) as a new EFIP member.
For The CEO of the port of Ghent, Daan Schalck, it is very natural to join EFIP: ”The upcoming Seine-Nord project, offers plenty of opportunities for the port of Ghent. Being an intermodal nodal point, Ghent has very good hinterland links via IWT, rail, pipelines en the road. With 20 million throughput by IWT, Ghent is in fact an important inland port. Moreover promoting sustainable transport is one of Ghent’s main goals. A reason more to join EFIP.”
Finally the EFIP members agreed to nominate a third Vice President, who will represent the Eastern and Central European countries. Mrs Carmen Costache, President of the Romanian Inland Ports, was elected for this function.
By welcoming the European inland ports, Mantova proves to attach a lot of importance to networking. Province of Mantova’s Vice-president Claudio Camocardi confirms: “Mantova has proven to be able to work in network at several levels, not only within EFIP, but also at national level. Mantova promoted together with other local organisations a "coordination agreement of the northern Italy waterway system", that held its first formal assembly in parallel with this General Assembly of EFIP. Even if inland waterway transport is not constantly present on the national political agenda, a bottom -up approach and network of port authorities and regional agencies is boosting.
The first result was the successful submission of a project under the TEN-T call for proposals, so that EU funds will contribute to the infrastructural development of the IWW.”
On Friday afternoon, EFIP members visited Mantova’s port area by boat.
We have discovered a port that is developing itself into an eco-compatible trimodal logistic pole, able to boast competitiveness and ensure environmental sustainability. The port of Mantova serves and lies on the one hand beside the Chemical pole area, an economically strategic area implying however a great effort for environmental prevention and recovery from historical pollution. On the other hand Mantova’s port area lies beside the Natural Park of the Mincio River with the protected area Vallazze, so important for its naturalistic biodiversity and beauty. It is a challenge for Mantova to develop a sustainable but competitive port and it seems that Mantova will be able to meet this challenge and become a real Eco-port”, States EFIP’s President after the visit.
The port visit was combined with a short conference where representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission inform EFIP and its members about current developments in EU transport policy of interest to inland ports. Belgian liberal MEP Dirk Sterckx spoke about the activities of the new Parliament and the cooperation between sea ports and inland ports in the framework of the “maritime space without frontiers” concept. His intervention was followed by an update on the implementation of the TEN-T priority projects and a preview of the Danube Strategy by Cesare Bernabei, Policy Coordinator for inland waterway transport projects in the European Commission and right hand of European Coordinator, Karla Peijs. Finally, Roberto Ferravante, DG Transport, Deputy Head of Unit, of the DG TREN Unit dealing with logistics, co-modality, inland waterways and motorways of the sea & Marco Polo gave an outline of the latest developments in the field of logistics.
Paolo Costa, former President of the Transport Committee of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Port of Venice, was the central guest of the dinner on 16 October. On 17 October a visit to the Port of Venice will conclude this two day meeting.
For More information, tel Isabelle Ryckbost, director EFIP: 00.32.475.35.76.93.
EFIP’s point of view on the “future of transport” in 15 points:
The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) believes that sustainability and efficiency should characterize the Transport System of and for the Future. To achieve this goal, the European Transport Policy should aim at lifting all obstacles to a better integration of the different transport modes (infrastructure, legislative, administrative, operational, and technological).
- An efficient and sustainable transport system can not be based on a one-mode policy but should be based on a successful combination of inland waterway, rail, road and maritime transport.
- The development and optimization of intermodal nodes or interconnection points with potential should be one of the main pillars of the new TEN-T guidelines.
- An enhanced cooperation between inland ports and seaports can contribute in making the freight transport system more sustainable and efficient. To achieve this, the Commission should examine to what extent inland ports could also be integrated in the “European maritime space without frontiers” concept in order to simplify and facilitate not only the maritime transport but also the further transport flow to the inland ports.
- The logistic benefits of an inland port in a town should be revalorised. Facing the challenge of increasing urban congestion, local authorities can not reserve the river and river banks for housing, offices and pure panoramic purposes only. Inland waterway transport and inland ports can contribute in finding sustainable solutions for the increasing demands in town supply and distribution of goods. This implies however a rebalancing between the different functions of the riverbanks, between the logistic, the housing and leisure needs. If needed, some space along the waterway should be safeguarded for logistical purposes or other river-related uses. At the same time, a good access to the port area should be guaranteed.
- Municipal and regional authorities should involve the port authorities when preparing a new development strategy for the town.
- EFIP understands the Commission’s plea for the internalisation of external costs (congestion, health problems caused by noise and air pollution, accidents, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.), but realizes that introducing this concept as a general principle in a balanced and fair way is difficult and will need time.
- The idea of internalisation of external costs should only be used to make transport modes more comparable for the user, not as an instrument to increase the overall cost of transport.
- “Smart pricing” should be introduced for the transport of waste, in particular between the collect centres and the recovery plants. At the same time, public tenders for waste transport should include the obligation to use more sustainable transport modes.
- The existing Short Sea Shipping Promotion Centres should be turned into Co-modality Promotion Centres which would be looking at the whole logistic chain and consider all transport modes. The existence of this Centres should be promoted more widely.
- A full and effective open European market in rail and road transport is an important instrument for making the intermodal transport concept work in practice.
- Railways can be a reliable partner for inland ports if they are not hindered by lack of flexibility in their organization or by lack of interoperability due to differences in the regulatory framework.
- The remaining administrative bottlenecks for intermodal transport should be removed.
- Technology is an important instrument for improving efficient solutions for a co-modal transport and supply chain. Research should be encouraged into new possibilities for inland waterway transport: f.i. inland waterway transport of pallets by barge,…
- In terms of transport traffic flows, the EU is not isolated, and it should give particular attention to its connections to countries beyond its borders in order to ensure sustained development of exchanges with other important trade partners. This is more in particular the case with the candidate countries and the new neighbouring countries of the Union.
- The development of the South East Europe Core Regional Network requires our attention. From an inland waterway transport perspective some of these countries surrounding the Sava river basin (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina) offer lots of possibilities for cooperation with the European Union.
For more information, contact Isabelle RYCKBOST, Director EFIP: 02.219.82.07 or 0475.35.76.93.
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EFIP’s position on the TEN-T review
Inland ports are an essential partner in linking up the TEN-T into a real intermodal and sustainable transport “network”
On 4th February 2009 the European Commission published a green paper to open the debate on the current TEN-T guidelines and to reflect on a more fundamental review of the TEN-policy to be proposed in 2010.
In their response to the Green Paper, the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) outlines that it is time to look at the interconnection points between the different transport modes and their infrastructure. Up to now, the TEN-T “network” was above all conceived as a set of TEN-T projects with a starting point and an end point. Too little attention was made to the starting and end point itself, to the connection between the TEN-T projects and the interconnection between the projects and the existing infrastructure. EFIP believes the European Commission has very rightly recognized the need to fill in this gap in order to realize a real “network”.
Isabelle Ryckbost, Director of EFIP: “Over the years, European inland ports have become real intermodal nodal points. They offer excellent traffic links to the rail, road and inland waterway and maritime networks and are located along the main corridors and industrial areas in the EU. Inland ports can play a vital role in optimizing the co-modal transport chain and in contributing to a sustainable transport logistic chain. It is time to use the potential inland ports have. One could compare it with a relay race. One can not win the race if you only focus on the individual runs of the members of the team. One can only win the race if the handing over of the baton between the runners is done in the most efficient and smooth manner. Inland ports are in a way the place where the baton is passed on.”
These are the main points of EFIP’s position:
- “Option 3” is the best way to go forward with the revision of the TEN-T guidelines. EFIP supports the dual layer consisting of a “core network” and a “comprehensive network”.
- EFIP has some reserves as concerns the “conceptual pillar”. EFIP can only support this idea if it is conceived as a well defined concept allowing for concrete projects to be introduced in application of this general concept. EFIP would favor in particular “the development and optimization for intermodal nodes or interconnection points” as a new conceptual approach in the TEN-T guidelines (cfr. The Motorways of the Sea conceptual project in the current TEN-T priorities).
- EFIP stresses that the review of the TEN-T should in any case not jeopardize or put into question the current priority projects.
- In terms of transport traffic flows, the EU should give particular attention to its connections to countries beyond its borders, more in particular the case with the candidate countries and the new neighbouring countries of the Union.
- The European Coordinators have shown to have the ability to put certain projects in a wider perspective and as such to come through their contacts to solutions for some obstacles, that were considered to be invincible.
- EFIP supports the idea to turn the existing Short Sea Shipping Promotion Centres into Co-modality Promotion Centres looking at the whole logistic chain. Moreover Motorways of the Sea Status should not be given to lines that serve a port that is underperforming as regards environment-friendly hinterland connections.
- Smaller inland ports are facing problems comparable to those SMEs are facing when they want to submit a project proposal: a lack of manpower, of expertise and of time to duly develop a proposal. The European Commission should reflect on this problem in order to avoid that smaller projects, because of these practical problems, refrain from participating in project proposals.
- The Member States or other stakeholders should not abuse the European environmental legislation in order to block the implementation of TEN-T projects
- The TEN-T network should be subject to the same rules in the European Union. Disparities can lead to distortion of traffic flows that are not sane.
- EFIP is fully aware of the huge financial impact of achieving a better integrated Trans-European network. EFIP however considers that investment in transport infrastructure is an essential means to counter the economic and financial crisis Europe is suffering at the moment. EFIP hopes that Member States will give more attention to the TEN-T when the midterm review of the financial perspectives is being discussed.
For more information, please contact Isabelle Ryckbost, Director, European Federation of Inland Ports
tel: +32.2.219.82.07, mobile: +32.475.35.76.93.
European Sea and Inland Ports Establish Joint Office in Brussels
Isabelle Ryckbost appointed Director of the European Federation of Inland Ports
Brussels, 2 April 2009 - The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) will sign today in the port of Brussels an agreement to set up a joint office in Brussels. Under this agreement the secretarial services of both organisations will be coordinated by ESPO. EFIP and ESPO will however stay separate legal entities with independent decision-making structures.
The agreement is an extension of the Platform of European Sea and Inland Ports which both associations established two years ago to underline the increased co-operation between sea and inland ports in the European logistical landscape and to reinforce the voice of European port authorities in Brussels.
“Both ESPO an EFIP will benefit from this joint secretariat”, said EFIP President Willy Robijns, “I firmly believe that a stronger co-operation will lead to a better understanding of their mutual needs and thus to an increased effectiveness of both sea and inland ports”.
“We very much look forward to taking the co-operation between our organisations one step further” added ESPO Chairman Victor Schoenmakers, “ I am convinced that it will strengthen the lobby power of port authorities in Brussels and will lead to a fruitful exchange of know-how between our respective members.”
Following the agreement, Isabelle Ryckbost was appointed Director of EFIP. Mrs. Ryckbost comes with almost 20 years of experience in EU public affairs, the last 10 years working as political assistant of MEP Dirk Sterckx where she was mainly active in transport and port-related fields, such as the maritime safety packages, the ports packages, railway liberalisation issues and inland navigation. Mrs. Ryckbost will start her work at the joint EFIP-ESPO office on 4 May 2009.
News of the ports
Good news about our members
In this section, EFIP wants to inform you about positive developments in our ports, successful participation in EU projects and positive experiences related to EU policy in general.
Innovative Inland Navigation project to stumlate the use of small inland waterways in North-West Europe
Stimulating and improving the use of small waterways in North-West Europe. This is the aim of the new launched project Inlanav, an intiative of Waterwegen en Zeekanaal together with some other partners from the Netherlands, France and Belgium. In essence, the project will be looking at the use of new technologies and logistic concepts in view of creating economies of scale, maknig inland waterway transport cost-effective and performant. The project gets a 50% EU support (nearly 500.000 EUR) provided by the Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme.
Work towards these objectives will be effected through three “work packages” within INLANAV:
1. Demonstrating that coupled ships can also service new market segments, namely pallets and big bags. By coupling inland ships and equipping them with a small crane so that they can load and unload their cargo without assistance.
This doubles the freight capacity and reduces the transhipment costs.
2. The development of “next generation” Waterslag concepts with an emphasis on technological innovations, the use of new materials and new logistics concepts. To this end, a platform is provided for bringing together diverse innovative projects that focus on coupled barges. These projects range from push barges powered by electric engines to the realization of an automatically guided barge with a larger hold, possibly constructed from composite materials.
3. The harmonisation of crewing regulations to facilitate the international operation of coupled ships. Inland waterway entrepreneurs are increasing active internationally but at present there are still differences in these regulations. The harmonising of these regulations will benefit the international goods transport with coupled ships.
4. The project is running until juin 2012. More information can be found on: www.inlanav.eu
New website must make navigation on the Elbe more accessible
As from 16 June businesses can find all the information they need when using the Elbe for the transport of their goods on the new online platform www.elbpro.com. The information relates to the whole Elbe river from the Czech republic until Cuxhaven.
The website is the main working instrument of the recently created Elbe Promotion Center. The Saxon Ports Oberelbe are responsible for this initiative which is being cofinanced by the European Commission.
The Austrian Port of Enns plans a unique Information and Training Centre
In June 2011 Ennshafen will open the door of a unique European visitor Centre. In a new modern designed exhibition area visitors will have the possibility to explore the transport system Danube. With this project, Ennshafen aims at spreading the knowledge about inland navigation on the Danube, which is often restricted to a very small group of experts. Even if the topics „Danube as transport route“ and „Inland navigation as part of logistic chain“ are fascinating
for many people, most of the people hardly know about it.
Through three interactive topic areas – the port, inland navigation and logistics - the visitors will learn in different levels of knowledge about the characteristics of the transport on the waterway. The visitors will also have the possibility to see how the port is functioning as pivot point between nodes and see how lock management and logistic management is working in practice. The MS Franz Liszt, a former inland navigation vessel, rebuilt as exhibition vessel, already located in front of the logistic center will be showed at the exhibition area.
Besides the exhibition, the center will offer the possibilities for specialised courses for business companies, pupils and students. Guided-tours will still be an integral part of the port visit. The existing restaurant will be extended with a shop area. The outdoor area will be made child-friendly, in such a way that the Information and Training Center Ennshafen will be an attractive destination for tourism and families.
MedlinkPorts: successful cooperation of French inland ports along the Rhône Saône axis with the Marseille-Fos Port
End 2008 the Marseille Fos port and the multimodal platforms at Pagny, Chalon, Mâcon, Villefranche, Lyon, Valence, Avignon-Le Pontet and Arles signed the “MedlinkPorts” promotional partnership agreement with the support of the French waterways organisation, Voies Navigables de France.
The partnership aims at promoting the range of multimodal logistics areas. By offering a structured network, the port of Marseilles has the capacity to lead flows of goods to the hinterland via massified modes of transport, being rail and inland waterways. Doing this the port of Marseilles is developing an economical, reliable, safe and eco-friendly solution for the transport of goods into the hinterland.
In addition to the big inland ports like the Lyon terminal, the network also features more modestly sized platforms. These smaller-scale platforms contribute enormously to the promotion of the network, and are rewarded with real commercial visibility.
The ultimate aim of this partnership is to ensure that goods coming through any Medlink port will benefit from the same services (information, goods storage, stuffing and emptying, customs facilities) as enjoyed at the Port of Marseilles.
Medlinkports has already proved to be successful when looking at the figures. In 2008 the container traffic going by inland waterways from and to the Port of Marseille-Fos to the different MedlinkPorts terminal amounted to 38 400 TEU. In 2009 this went up 54 300 TEU or an increase of 44%!
For more information: http://www.medlinkports.fr/
Port of Ghent receives European Greenbuilding award
Port of Ghent office building received the European GreenBuilding Awards for energy efficient non-residential buildings.
With this award the European Commission wants to encourage organisations in reducing the consumption of energy and their CO2 emissions of their buildings through a better energy efficiency and innovation.
The National Award winners of 9 EU-countries were assessed by a five-member jury according to defined quantitative and qualitative criteria. Among them, the jury has chosen the 13 most ambitious projects in the categories Best Endorser, Best Corporate Partner, Best Refurbishment Projects, and Best New Projects.
The Port of Ghent office building, which houses most of the Port of Ghent’s services, was one of the winning projects in the Category Best New Projects.
“Ecocomparateur” Port of Paris counts environmental gains IWT
The Port of Paris has developed on its website a tool allowing potential clients to measure the environmental gains of using combined transport (water- road) instead of 100% road transport when transporting goods between Rouen and Le Havre and the Seine Basin.
The instrument also looks at the cost for the company in each case and the difference in time of transport.
The calculations are made on the basis of a study made by the Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie
You can test it on:
http://www.paris-ports.fr/environnement/eco-comparateur
The Dutch inland ports promote a unique system of shore power
The Dutch seaports decided last year to provide on shore power for inland ships in order to limit the noise in and around seaports and to reduce emissions. As a result, on 19 November 2009, the Dutch National Port Council adopted guidelines for on shore power supply in inland navigation. In view of obtaining a uniform system in the Netherlands (namely among its 359 inland ports), the Dutch Association of Inland Ports, Nederlandse Vereniging Binnenhavens has decided to support this initiative by promoting this system towards the different local authorities and port authorities. By promoting a unique system for all, the NVB hopes to facilitate the use and to reduce costs as much as possible.
Next step is to have this system used at EU level as well. The Dutch Association is looking in that respect at EFIP. Our Dutch members have received money from the European Commission and from the Province of Zuid-Holland to stimulate the use of on shore power.
http://havens.binnenvaart.nl/
EU support for the creation of a network for the promotion of inland and fluvio- maritime navigation in Northern Italy and the Northern Adriatic Sea
In September 2009, the European Commission issued a call for proposals with the aim to promote the objectives of the common transport policy. One of the grants would go to the creation of a network of centres for promoting inland waterway navigation. The Unione Navigazione Interna Italiana, one of EFIP’s members, decided to submit together with the Agenzia della Lombardia Orientale per I Transporti e la Logistica a project, namely to create the “NINA-Net”, a “Network for the Promotion of inland and fluvio-maritime navigation in Northern Italy and Northern Adriatic sea”. In January 2010 our Italian friends received the good news that their project was accepted. This means that they will receive a grant of € 96.544 (50%) on a total budget foreseen for this project of € 193.088.
With this project the initiators want to develop and implement a coordinated promotional strategy to show the several services and infrastructures of inland waterway transport as a unique offer, to reach new markets and operators in Europe and improve the ability of communication. Potential users will be involved through the organisation of technical seminars where European best practices and benchmark case studies will be presented. Special attention will be given to the transport of dangerous goods, where the inland transport can play an important role in the future, especially in congesting areas such as the Po Valley. Finally the NINA-Net project aims at consolidating the Northern Italy IWW network and starting up effective networking with IWW key players around Europe.
More information about the project will be soon available on: www.alot.it or by contacting: Guido Piccoli:
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phone: +39 348 2291977 – fax: +39 030 290 6519
Wanda project on Waste Management for inland Navigation on the Danube
Since July 2009 the Maritime Danube Ports Administration SA Galati is participating in the activities of the Wanda project on Waste management for Inland Navigation on the Danube.
The project aims at creating a transnationally coordinated waste management system that shall be applied in all Danube riparian countries. The partners in this project want to develop and implement together preventive measures to ensure an environmentally sound approach to the ship waste management system. WANDA is funded by the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme (SEE) of the European Union in Priority 2 - "Protection and Improvement of the Environment" and was approved in June 2009. The 3 year-project brings together nine partners from seven countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia) which are all operating in the field of navigation, infrastructure services or research. The consortium is coordinated by Via Donau - Austrian Waterway Company as Lead Partner.
For more information on this project, please contact Mr Silviu Meterna, project manager:
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or surf to:
http://www.southeast-europe.net/en/news_and_events/project_news/wandaprojectkicksoff
Rheinlandports: three ports, three countries, three modes
In 2009 the Port of Basel has developed together with the Port of Mulhouse (France) and the Port of Weil am Rhein (Germany) a trimodal logistic platform ,“Rheinports”. This “3 countries, 3 ports and 3 modes” concept shows very well how inland ports are joining their forces and creating synergies at a cross border European level. By joining their forces the inland ports also want to become more attractive partners for the seaports. See also website of the Port of Basel: http://portof-switzerland.ch/site/
New cruise service “Nave + Bici” in mantova
On 5th June 2009 a new cruise service “Nave +Bici” was inaugurated leaving from the Port of Mantova. The idea is to combine a boat and bike trip along the river Po from Mantova to Venice. The cruise ship “Vita Pugna” can accommodate up to 25 people. More information can be found on: http://www.vitapugna.it
The waterslag Project
EFIP’s President, Willy Robijns is project manager of the “Waterslag Project” (ECSWA). This project aims at making the best possible use of the capacity of small waterways in Flanders and the southern Netherlands, avoiding costly infrastructure works.
Inland vessels could transport twice as much cargo if they used pushed barges that comply with all applicable technical requirements and can pass through locks on their own. That would make goods transport by water a more attractive option and reduce its cost, which would benefit mobility, the economy and the environment. Other EU countries, such as Germany, France and Great Britain could also make use of this innovative inland shipping concept.
The Waterslag project (ECSWA) is being elaborated by the joint efforts of Incodelta (located in the southern Netherlands), the two Flemish waterway management organisations Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV and NV De Scheepvaart, and several private-sector partners in Flanders and the Netherlands. The project coordinator is Buck Consultants International. Financial support for the project is provided by Interreg IIIB North-West Europe.
More information: http://www.waterslag.org/uk/welcome.html
EFIP in press (PDF)
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