Pro Danube - News

: 20 September 2017

Danube Transport Day 2017 in European Parliament

With the support of MEP Ana-Claudia Tapardel (Member TRAN), PDI is organising the second edition of the Danube Transport Day on 23 November 2017 in the European Parliament. This event will bring together for a fruitful dialogue on one side officials from the European Parliament and the European Commission (confirmed participation of Ms Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for Transport) and on the other side industry representatives from main industries active in the Danube region.

The 2017 event shall raise the awareness of the members of the European Parliament, the European Commission as well as of invited policy makers towards the infrastructure and innovation needs and the planned innovation activities of the Danube IWT sector for its modernization and for achieving a revitalised image of the Danube transport among transport users, logistics service providers and the wider public.

A preliminary agenda can be found here. Please note that participation is free of charge and will provide very good networking opportunities.

If you are interested to participate, please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Registration deadline is 15 November 2017.

: 07 July 2017

Petition for urgent dredging of the most critical sections of the Bulgarian Danube sector

With the support of over 60 members and undersigned organisations, Pro Danube approached the Bulgarian Transport Minister Mr Ivaylo Moskovski in order to ensure immediate dredging of the critical Bulgarian Danube sections. Based on the information received from the hydrographic surveys of the Danube fairway performed beginning of June by the Bulgarian waterway administration, it became clear that especially at the locations of Milka Island (km 569 – 567), Brashlyan Island (KM 457-455) and Popina (KM 407-405) the fairway depths will fall even below 1,8 m in case of shallow water situations which can be expected usually for summer and autumn. These well-known bottlenecks have created in previous years (2011-2016) several times severe restrictions to navigation or even total blockage leading to massive financial losses.

This official request on behalf of the industry is in line with the international obligations of the State of Bulgaria to ensure minimum navigation conditions and with its commitments within the EU initiatives for improving maintenance of the Danube fairway (by signing the Declarations of the Danube Transport Ministers in Luxembourg/June 2012, in Brussels/December 2014 and in Rotterdam/June 2016).

In addition, PDI informed the EU Commissioner for Transport Ms Violeta Bulc and Commissioner for Regional Policy Ms Corina Cretu on the critical state and asked to urge the Bulgarian minister for Transport to act immediately in order to avoid blockage of Danube. Further interventions on various political and administrative levels are planned in the next two weeks if necessary.

We would like to use this chance and thank again all those organisations that have supported our initiative. The letter and list of undersigned companies can be found attached to this news.

Letter to Mr Ivaylo Moskovski, Bulgarian Transport Minister

List of undersigned companies

: 16 May 2017

Workshop "Natural Gas for Inland Shipping", Strasbourg

A workshop on the challenges and options for the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural GAS (CNG) organised in the framework of the European Inland Barging Innovation Platform will take place on 21 June 2017 in Strasbourg, between 09:00 and 13:00.

Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrohJTBuNyNu77bTbcCxKGmOSxUR9SJcBEqxi4ScSRvil-ew/viewform

Place: Le Vaisseau - 1 Bis Rue Philippe Dollinger, 67100 Strasbourg

Agenda:

Levers, limits and development strategy
Testimonials and feedback
Roundtables with european experts
Lunch and visit of Gambsheim Locks

: 27 April 2017

Maritime Industry 2017, Gorinchem

On 9 to 11 May 2017, Evenementental Gorinchem will host a brand new version of the Maritime Industry exhibition.
The Netherlands is Europe’s main maritime industry hub. Europe’s largest inland shipping fleet, as well as a broad range of ocean-going vessels can be found here. Netherland's harbour capacity is the largest in the world. During Maritime Industry, the whole nautical sector meets at the well of the water region for networking, creating a common ground for cooperation, and for keeping up with the latest industry trends and developments. In short, as an exhibitor, you get to meet a wide and full target audience, and simultaneously hear the latest in the sector.

Date	9 – 11 May 2017
Time	All days from 13.00 till 21.00
Venue	“Maritime Industry 2017” Fair Evenementenhal Gorinchem (booth 224 of Innovation Lab) Franklinweg 2 4207 HZ Gorinchem the Netherlands
Contact	T: +31 (0) 183 680 680 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Details	http://booking.evenementenhal.nl/en/maritime-industry-go-2017/gorinchem