Inland Waterways and ports open TEN-T days with innovation power
Press Releases
20 June 2016
Today high-level representatives from the European Union and from the sector joined the VIP-event 'Inland navigation and ports in action' at the TEN-T days in Rotterdam.On this occasion official delegations visited innovative pallet barges with cranes on board. Motivated and talented people are what makes the sector great and is what the future of the sector relies on. Therefore several future generation captains received their certificate to mark this memorable day.
Commissioner Violeta Bulc, responsible for Transport:”Inland navigation and ports can and have to play a much more prominent role than today. Together we need to create the conditions that bring more freight to the water.”
Dutch Minister of Transport, Melanie Schultz: ”The share of waterways in the carriage of goods in The Netherlands is more than 30%. We are world champion with that share and there is still a lot of potential on our European waterways.”
Patrick Renard, CEO of Knauf Belgium, a worldwide specialist in sustainable building materials: ”Inland shipping is the fastest grower after road transport, so let’s put it at the top of the political agenda. Multimodal waterway transport reduces external costs. Let’s use this cost advantage to boost inland shipping.”
The event was initiated by the four European organisations representing inland navigation and ports: European Barge Union, European Skippers Organisation, Inland Navigation Europe and the European Federation of Inland Ports. Together they underlined that inland navigation and ports are key assets for the future sustainable growth of the European economy.
Editorial note:
Theresia Hacksteiner (EBU) : +31 (0) 6 53336366
Alexander van den Bosch (EFIP): +32 (0) 471096394
Hester Duursema (ESO): +31 (0) 6 81952568
Karin De Schepper (INE): +32 (0) 477747037
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