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Thrilled to have participated yesterday in the symposium "𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹: 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗶𝗿 & 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 - 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵" organised by Aussenwirtschaft Austria in collaboration with the Romanian Embassy in Austria. 

High-level representatives from various sectors, including the Romanian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian Embassies, Romanian ports administrations, and business representatives, convened to explore the core benefits of Romania's partial accession to the Schengen Area via Air and Sea.

As Pro Danube, we were honored to participate in discussions emphasising the importance of Danube Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) towards multimodality that goes hand-in-hand with climate neutrality and economic viability. The event highlighted the Danube's strategic position as an economic backbone, underscoring its key role in securing exports such as Ukrainian agricultural products through the Solidarity Lanes.

The symposium also highlighted Romania's strategic vision to enhance multimodality, focusing on waterborne and railway sectors alongside roads. Core projects to enhance IWT were presented, putting the spotlight on the collaborative Romanian - Bulgarian efforts to jointly address dredging issues on some critical sections of the Danube, aiming to secure uninterrupted navigation throughout the year. 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀. 

Moreover, discussions delved into the crucial role of EU funds in fostering multimodality and unlocking the full potential of a future-oriented European transport network. Investments in this regard were emphasised, paving the way for insightful dialogues on IWT's role in enhancing multimodality.

It was indeed a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and presentations, shedding light on the immense potential of Danube IWT and its contribution to a dynamic and sustainable transport landscape.

We are thrilled to announce that LAT Nitrogen has decided to join the Pro Danube community! 

LAT Nitrogen is a leading European provider of nitrogen-based products in the fertilizer and industrial chemical market. The company was created through the acquisition of Borealis Fertilizer, Technical Nitrogen and Melamine business by AGROFERT in 2023. LAT Nitrogen employs nearly 2,000 employees across Europe and has production units located in Austria, France and Germany. The company has an extensive warehouse and commercial network in Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

To find out more about our new member please check their website here.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱!

Last week, Pro Danube's General Assembly convened, marking a key moment for reflection, collaboration, and setting the course for the future. This gathering provided an extraordinary opportunity for our valued members to come together, celebrate past successes, and chart a path forward amidst the challenges that await us in the Danube Inland Waterway Transport sector.

At the heart of our discussions lay a steadfast commitment to advancing the cause of sustainable development, innovation, and cooperation. These principles serve as our guiding compass, shaping our initiatives and driving our collective efforts towards a future that is not only sustainable but also prosperous.

As we embark on this journey together, it is of utmost importance that we view challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. Through unity and determination, we can navigate towards a more sustainable tomorrow, one that benefits our industry and secures its place as a crucial element of multimodality.

Pro Danube stands firm in its dedication to the advancement of Danube Inland Waterway Transport. If you are an enthusiast in this field and wish to be part of our community, now is the time to join us. Details regarding our latest accomplishments and our plan for 2024 are available here.

The fourth Expert Meeting on the Development of Ports and Port Operations organised by the Danube Commission on 12 March 2024, served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration aimed at advancing key port-related initiatives in the Danube Region and well beyond. 

Among the focal points of discussion were the two EU-funded projects Pro Danube is actively involved in: the Green Inland Ports Study (GRIP) and MultiRELOAD.

Geert Smit, from Ecorys, the organisation leading the Green Inland Ports Study, outlined its core objectives, focusing on assessing the environmental impact of ports, maximising the potential of digitalisation for sustainability, and exploring the integration of inland waterway transport into urban mobility and short-distance logistics. Notably, Pro Danube's leading role in addressing the thematic aspect of digitalisation underscored our crucial role in shaping the future of inland ports.

Meanwhile, the MultiRELOAD project shed light on the untapped potential of container transport on the Danube. Despite the Danube's strategic importance, container transport along its route remains underutilised. However, the MultiRELOAD study revealed a promising opportunity for growth. Even a modest 5% shift from road to inland waterways could result in a substantial 47% increase in freight transport along the Danube. This insight underscores the strategic importance of the Danube within Europe's transport network.

Finally, the official launch of the Danube Ports Days 2024 event within the framework of the meeting was met with eager anticipation from participants comprising of industry leaders, experts, and IWT enthusiasts. This event promises to be a platform for fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and driving innovation within the IWT sector.

The presentations are available for download on the website of the Danube Commission.

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