The Platform for the implementation of a future inland navigation action programme PLATINA3 has officially kicked-off on the 8th of February 2021. This project aims to improve impact and broadening stakeholder engagement in support of transport research and innovation under the EU Horizon 2020 programme. For a period of 30 months the project partners provide targeted coordination and support activities to promote Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) in Europe.
PLATINA3 therefore addresses four priority topics for the success of IWT: (1) integration and digitalization of IWT in view of modal shift and synchro modality, (2) zero emission, automated and climate resilient fleet, (3) skilled workforce anticipating to zero-emission & automation, and (4) smart & climate resilient waterway and port infrastructure with clean energy hubs. PLATINA3 is structured around thematic fields Market, Fleet, Jobs & Skills and Infrastructure. Key experts and stakeholders are consortium partners ensuring required expertise and support: IWT sector and shippers (IWT Platform, BLN, ESC), member states and river commissions (CCNR, DC), waterway administrations (INE, viadonau), education institutes (STC, MAH), Waterborne TP (Sea Europe), workers (ETF), expertise centres (PDM and EICB).
PLATINA3 therefore addresses four priority topics for the success of IWT: (1) integration and digitalization of IWT in view of modal shift and synchro modality, (2) zero emission, automated and climate resilient fleet, (3) skilled workforce anticipating to zero-emission & automation, and (4) smart & climate resilient waterway and port infrastructure with clean energy hubs. PLATINA3 is structured around thematic fields Market, Fleet, Jobs & Skills and Infrastructure. Key experts and stakeholders are consortium partners ensuring required expertise and support: IWT sector and shippers (IWT Platform, BLN, ESC), member states and river commissions (CCNR, DC), waterway administrations (INE, viadonau), education institutes (STC, MAH), Waterborne TP (Sea Europe), workers (ETF), expertise centres (PDM and EICB).
On the 7th and 8th of April, the PLATINA3 consortium is organizing the first STAGE event in a series of six international meetings, which will be hosted online by the Danube Commission.
Participants will be able to virtually attend keynote speeches by the newly elected President of the Danube Commission, high-ranking representatives of the European Commission and from the Danube countries, members of the European Parliament and from the business community. The opening session will be followed by 7 thematic sessions, addressing key challenges and opportunities in inland navigation such as the transition to zero-emission shipping, the integration of inland navigation into supply chains, and smart waterways and autonomous navigation.
On the 8th of April between 09:45 and 13:00 hrs, Pro Danube Management together with viadonau are organising a session dedicated to synchromodal logistics chains & smart waterways. Chaired by PDM, the event aims to highlight on one side daily practices and challenges experienced by several logistics operators involved across the different supply chains legs, introduce new tools and services enabling the integration of IWT into synchromodal logistics chains as well as it will promote best practices collected by means of pilot activities deployed within the framework of one of the leading Austrian research project in the field of physical internet – PhysICAL and the European logistics alliance ALICE. It will also provide an insight to the EC’s ongoing and planned initiatives in terms of digitalization and digital transformation & integration and will introduce key messages derived from the evaluation of the RIS Directive.
A copy of the agenda is available for download here.