More inland navigation on the Elbe
In Germany, promoting the shift of cargo from road haulage to other modes of transport, including inland waterways, continues to be an important political issue.
In central Germany, favourable water levels recently ensured a significant increase in large shipments on the Elbe River. For example, the regional Sächsische Binnenhäfen Oberelbe (SBO) was able to carry out about 20% more large shipments in the Alberthafen Dresden-Friedrichstadt by mid-May than in the same period last year. A total of 16 large shipments were processed.
The goods handled included mainly transformers, turbines, engines, presses and containers with unit weights of 40 to 250 t. The cargo was transported by barge from the port of Dresden to the seaports of Hamburg and Antwerp for onward transport to Asia and South America. (cd)