Pro Danube - News

: 06 May 2021

Update on PhysICAL

physical project final picture Pro Danube is hereby proud to report on the progress of PhysICAL, a leading research project dealing with the concept of Physical Internet for the logistics sector in Austria, co-funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

On the 15^th of April representatives of the project consortium came together for a virtual meeting to kick-start a very important project workpackage covering one of the pilot activities which is dealing with wood & forestry products logistics.

In a workshop atmosphere, representatives of Steiermarkbahn, 4PL Intermodal, A1 Digital, Cargo Center Graz, Pro Danube Management, Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo, Austrian Institute of Technology, Technical University of Graz and Fraunhofer Austria agreed on the next steps for the successful rollout of the related activities.

The focus of this workpackge is the development and use of a standardized, flexible, smart container for wood and wood products to enable smooth transshipping between the different modes of transport (truck, rail, barge). Integration within a digital platform is foreseen to enable all related logistics chain operations such as ordering of carrying containers, transport route optimization, traceability of the load, integration of billing software. For this purpose, several technological aspects need to be considered such as the adaptation of existing flat wagons of the narrow-gauge railways to container flat wagons, development and construction of prototypes of the smart containers as well as the development of an app solution. The discussion brought in several aspects such as pro & cons as well as risks for using such smart containers, as well as manifold details in terms of logistics operations planning.

The next steps envisaged are the consultations with highly experienced industry representatives, for a collection of good practices to support further the definition of technical specifications.

: 21 April 2021

The role of Inland Waterway Transport in European synchromodal logistics chains

Organised on the 8^th of April within the frame of the first PLATINA3 Stage Event, session 6 entitled “Let’s make IWT a reliable partner of synchromodal logistics chains using smart waterways”, addressed key aspects dealt with by two separate PLATINA3 project tasks, but at the same very complementary, – on the one hand Task 1.3 dealing with assessing the needs and requirements for integrating IWT into synchromodal logistics chains and, on the other hand, Task 4.3 touching upon digital & automation tools for inland navigation, inland & seaports.

Pro Danube Management GmbH together with the Austrian waterway administration viadonau held a three and a half hour interactive session with highly experienced speakers representing both the policy perspective as well as the industry needs & trends, speakers that have agreed to join forces and reflect on the challenges and opportunities to achieve a fully integrated transport system within a well synchronized and smart European transport network, with IWT being a reliable partner in the logistics chains.

In this sense, the perspectives of several speakers representing four focus areas have been successfully introduced, such as:

The policy framework side: the speaker from the European Commission/DG MOVE provided an insight into several relevant EU policies & actions in relation to transport & digital related initiatives, taking into account the environmental targets, initiatives meant to support - for example - the use of smart technologies that provide reliable fairway & port information and hence contribute to attracting new cargoes and volumes.
The branch organisation ALICE, the alliance for logistics innovation in Europe – representing the bridge towards the logistics sector arena, introducing the prerequisites for manufacturers/shippers and their supply chains to promote synchromodality and include IWT in their distribution network as well as to promote a smooth integration with the other modes of transport.
The third area covered was the industry side, having a dedicated focus on supply chain solutions – three top actors from the Danube Region active along European supply chains (among which the oil&gas company OMV, the trimodal container terminal WIENCONT & the logistics service provider Rhenus Logistics) reflected on smart technologies, tools and applications they are currently using in their daily operations as well as various requirements for - depending on which side of the supply chain they are - making use/providing fully integrated supply chain solutions & services.
The project side & their contributions – Besides the introduction to the PLATINA 3 project, the session presented three other funded projects (DIWA, PhysICAL, RIS COMEX) looking into solutions to support the sector in the digital development, giving the audience an insight to their research results.

At the end of the session, Pro Danube has highlighted its overarching approach to streamline the results achieved in the past years by means of dedicated projects and initiatives (for details please refer to https://www.prodanube.eu/) for the benefits of the Danube waterborne transport.

We hereby would like to use this opportunity and thank the organisers & moderators Mr Robert Rafael, Ms Ruxandra Florescu and Mr Juha Schweighofer, all speakers (Mr Mario Sattler, Mr Fernando Liesa, Mr Thomas Herics, Mr Harald Jony, Mr Gerhard Gussmagg, Mr Matthias Prandtstetter and Mr Mario Kaufmann) as well as participants for their valuable contributions and the interactive exchange of ideas aiming to a higher share of the competitive inland waterway transport in the complete logistics chains.

Presentations are available at: https://platina3.eu/event/budapest/

: 16 April 2021

Pro Danube at the Rhine-Danube Corridor Meetings

Pro Danube International was represented by its Chairman, Mr. Herfried Leitner, and its General Secretary, Mr. Robert Rafael at the 13^th Working Group Meeting of the Rhine-Danube Corridor on Ports and Inland Waterways. With Pro Danube being actively involved in the DIONYSUS project, which core objective is to address the main regional challenges in port infrastructure governance and planning in order to facilitate the integration of the Danube Region into smart and sustainable multi-modal transport chains, the meeting proved extremely fruitful from a multitude of perspectives. It provided a platform to discuss and present the ongoing proceedings directly affecting the legislative framework on inland waterway transport, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Danube riparian countries, and last but not least, information on the status quo of digitalisation and alternative fuels as well as on the current status of the revision of the TEN-T Regulation.

Regarding digitalisation – vital in making IWT more efficient - Pro Danube’s Chairman, Mr. Leitner, asked how the European Commission puts the advantages of digitalisation into balance: what is the concrete benefit for river ship owners since currently, they are not able to see the operating vessels on one, harmonised platform. The answer provided suggested that there is still the challenge of data protection while the expectation is that this issue, addressed by RIS COMEX, will be solved in the foreseeable future. The conclusions of the meeting and the collected information will feed into the ongoing proceedings of the DIONYSUS project.

In the aftermath of this meeting, the representatives of Pro Danube joined the 15^thOnline Meeting of the Rhine-Danube Core Network Corridor Forum. High on the agenda of the meeting was the presentation of the progress of the updated Study on the Rhine-Danube TEN-T Core Network 2021. The presentation addressed several aspects, such as: What has changed compared to the findings in 2017? Which bottlenecks still hamper multimodality? What is the status quo of ongoing projects? This and further relevant questions will be touched by the study which is expected to be published soon.

Pro Danube urged for the long-term solution for the fairway management works on the Romanian-Bulgarian joint Danube section. Its representatives also highlighted that besides the available depth in the fairway, it also has to be ensured that the port entrances are also providing the proper depth to enter/leave the port with loaded draught as on the fairway.

Other important aspects discussed in the framework of the meeting refer to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multimodality and to the expected financing opportunities for the transport sector foreseen for the period 2021-2027.

: 15 April 2021

PDI marks its 10th anniversary with a special General Assembly and the launch of its new website

capture7 min Attended by its members, the Coordinator of the Rhine- Danube Corridor – Ms. Ines Ayala Sender, representatives of the European Commission, the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency and the Danube Commission as well as its fellow branch organisations - INE, IWT Platform, Pro Danube Austria and the waterway administration viadonau, the 10^th anniversary of Pro Danube International was marked on Friday, 26 March 2021, by a festive online edition of the association’s General Assembly. On this occasion, Pro Danube’s new website was officially launched, providing a new point of reference for partners and stakeholders.

Founded in 2011 by Mr. Alexandru Capatu and Mr. Manfred Seitz, Pro Danube International continued to grow, developing into a network of more than 180 companies which have a strategic interest in securing better infrastructure conditions and a higher rate of public & private investments in the Danube transport and logistics system. In its capacity as the main voice of the IWT industry in the Danube Region, Pro Danube initiated and successfully rolled out projects funded by various EU funding programmes such as the Danube Transnational Programme – DANTE, DAPhNE (2017-2019), GRENDEL (2018-2020) as well as in the frame of other funding programmes such as CEF, Horizon 2020 and TEN-T - all of which produced tangible results widely acknowledged on the transnational level.

Having a unified, harmonised voice that represents the interest of the Danube IWT sector is, as highlighted by PDI’s Chairman, Mr. Herfried Leitner, beneficial for both the industry and public authorities responsible for the governance of IWT.

PDI is actively involved in initiatives at the EU level having continuously contributed to major policy initiatives such as the European Union Action Programme NAIADES, the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region as well as the Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan for the Danube and its navigable tributaries. The association is furthermore actively involved in dedicated expert groups such as:

Permanent observer of the EUSDR/PA1A Steering Group (since April 2015) as well as active member of the working groups;
Member of European RIS Expert Groups;
Member of NAIADES Expert Group;
Member of FAIRWAY project Advisory Board;
Member of Good Navigation Status Expert Group;
Member of DINA – Digital Inland Waterway Area Task Force (since 2017);
Member of the DTLF – Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (December 2018);
PIANC (World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure):
- WG125: River Information Services;
- WG156: e-Navigation for Inland Waterways.

Pro Danube’s celebration was honoured by the presence of Ms. Ines Ayala-Sender, the new European Coordinator for the TEN-T Rhine-Danube Corridor as of 1 January 2021. In her keynote speech, Ms. Ayala-Sender highlighted PDI’s role in efficiently bundling the Danube IWT industry’s voice on the European level and its vital role in initiating and facilitating EU-funded projects which had a positive impact on the overall development of IWT. These projects further strengthened the Danube IWT community, setting the ground for successful subsequent initiatives and projects which shall reflect key aspects of the European Green Deal.

One of the two founders of Pro Danube International – Mr. Manfred Seitz – reflected on the beginnings of the association, on the driving force of his and Mr. Capatu’s enthusiasm for the IWT sector that was and still is present at the heart of PDI. Remembering PDI’s success stories and its evolution as a unified voice of the Danube IWT industry was a great opportunity to cherish the memory of the late founding father and President of PDI, Mr. Alexandru Capatu.

Underlying PDI’s role as a gateway between public and private entities, Mr. Antonio Stoean, representing one of the founding members of Pro Danube International – TTS Romania – argued that digitalisation and greening are key elements that should play a vital role in PDI’s future initiatives. Moreover, from the sector’s perspective, several short and mid-term actions are needed in order to efficiently adapt IWT to the latest European legislation in terms of emission reduction and alternative fuels. Crucial for a balanced development is a common approach, whereas the comparatively low intake of innovative technologies must be taken into consideration when shaping the future of IWT.

“Greater Together” is a key motto that defines the very existence of PDI, as highlighted by its General Secretary, Mr. Róbert Rafael. This is reflected by the fruitful partnership with related public and private branch organisations such as INE, the IWT Platform, Pro Danube Austria and the waterway administration viadonau. The distinguished representatives of these organisations joined PDI’s celebration marking a decade of commitment for the well-being of the Danube IWT sector, highlighting in their keynote speeches the excellent collaboration in terms of projects and initiatives.

A new website as key communication platform for the years ahead

The continuous evolution of Pro Danube and its acknowledged impact on the well-being of the Danube IWT sector is reflected in the launch of a new website that features the organisation’s commitment to the well-being of the Danube IWT sector and its expertise in various IWT related thematic fields. With PDI focusing on identifying the needs of the sector & with rolling out EU-wide policy-related-actions on one hand, and PDM on shaping up business cases as well as on developing and implementing transnational projects, on the other hand, the two entities share the same communication efforts and dissemination channels. To this end, four main channels support Pro Danube on a daily basis to communicate with its stakeholders, namely by means of its website as well as via the dedicated group's setup making use of the Social Media platforms - Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.

The redesigned website harmoniously integrates various contents as well as improved functionalities, facilitating closer communication with the members and the community at large. It offers quick and easy access to the main information of both Pro Danube International and Pro Danube Management, on past and ongoing projects, provides an overview of its monthly newsletters, publications, events, news and other informative materials facilitating awareness creation and know-how transfer within the IWT community. The highlights are reflected by the Members as well as the Initiatives sections, which give the necessary visibility and hence promote tailored activities to the needs of our sector.

A presentation highlighting PDI's active and enduring commitment to the well-being of the IWT sector is available here.