Inland Waterborne Transport advantages such as low-energy and low CO2 emitting transport are not fully exploited today due to gaps in the logistics system. Inland container vessels pay 6-8 calls at seaport terminals with long waiting times. More time is lost by sub-optimal navigation on rivers and waiting at bridges and locks. In addition, low load factors of containers and vessels impact the logistics systems with unnecessary high numbers of containers being transported and trips being made. The NOVIMOVE strategy to address this is to condense the logistics system by improving container load factors and by reducing waiting times in seaports, by improved river voyage planning and execution, and by facilitating smooth passages through bridges and locks. NOVIMOVE’s innovations are:
1. cargo reconstruction to raise container load factors;
2. mobile terminals feeding inland barges;
3. smart river navigation by merging satellite information with real time river water depths data;
4. smooth passage through bridges/locks by a dynamic scheduling system for better corridor management;
5. concepts for innovative vessels that can adapt to low water conditions while maintaining a full payload, and
6. close cooperation with logistic stakeholders, ports and water authorities along the Rhine-Alpine route: Antwerp, Rotterdam, Duisburg, Basel.
The NOVIMOVE 21-members consortium combines logistics operators, ports, system-developers and research organisations from 4 EU member states and two associate countries. NOVIMOVE technology developments have been demonstrated by virtual simulation, scaled model tests, as well as in full-scale. The innovations are estimated to impact the quantity of freight moved by Inland Waterborne Transport along the Rhine-Alpine corridor in different orders of magnitude depending on the scenario considered with respect to 2010 baseline data. The steps necessary for further development and market uptake have been identified. The project duration was 4 years, with a requested budget of EUR 8,9 million.
