The inland waterways behind the seaports
Inland barges can look forward to strong stern winds. Given their environment-friendliness and their intermodal possibilities, they are the mode of choice for many a logistics player. An overview of current projects.
Given the current strong trend for the protection of the environment, increased use of inland waterways is on many a European country’s agenda, as well as of firms in the logistics chain. In Sweden, for example, the ports of Mälarhamnar and Stockholm are jointly developing inland waterways for freight transport. The aim of this cooperation is to provide an inland waterway link between Stockholm and Mälarhamnar.
The Swedish capital is also building a new cargo gateway, Norvik port in southern Stockholm, which will open in May 2020. At the same time, projects to handle greater volumes of goods are underway in Mälarhamnar’s ports of Köping and Västerås.
“In order for shipping companies, forwarders and shippers to be able to operate and to use inland shipping we, the ports, have to play our part,” said Carola Alzén, CEO of the entity Mälarhamnar AB, with regard to these projects. The new 100 km link will reduce the strain on the congested road and rail network in the Stockholm area.
Switching to batteries and hydrogen
There are numerous other projects on European inland waterways too. In the Benelux countries and in Germany a coalition between Delta Port Niederrheinhäfen, Eon and the port of Rotterdam has come together. They want to create better conditions for inland waterway operations in Germany and Europe to switch from diesel to battery and hydrogen propulsion.
The companies have agreed to develop the requisite infrastructure to ensure that freight barges and passenger ships can refuel in climate-neutral way in ports by being able to exchange their batteries there or refuel with hydrogen. In addition to protecting the climate and improving air and water quality, the objectives are naturally also the long-term optimisation of logistics costs.
The pilot concept will initially focus on Delta Port’s inland hub network in Orsoy, Voerde, Wesel and Emmerich, which has been in existence since 2012 and which, thanks to local aluminium producer Trimet, is striving for sustainability in the context of the so-called ‘Eco Port 813’ project (the Rhine kilometre). In Wesel aluminium producer Trimet contributes its waste heat, from which the energy company Eon can produce alternative energy.
Purifying the last mile
Since August 2019 the first project has been operational, with the settlement of Nordfrost in Wesel. The infrastructure is now being redesigned so that not only ships, but also trains and trucks can refuel hydrogen or recharge their batteries in the port. The idea is to also make the last mile green and CO2-free. Alexander Fenzl, director for the German business of Eon Business Solutions, says that “freight transport on inland waterways already goes easier on the environment than the railways or the roads do. Our climate-neutral approach will accompany this process and help to make transport by inland waterway economical, climate-friendly and sustainable.”