
The Danube Ports Days Event is back, promising another edition filled with innovative discussions, collaborative insights, and a focus on sustainability within the realm of ports. Building on the success of the previous years, this event aims to bring together industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts to explore the pressing questions that shape the future of ports and their impact on the environment.
Key Themes of the Danube Ports Days 2024
Modal Shift and Eco-friendly Transportation
Discover the commitments ports are making to drive modal shift. Explore eco-friendly transportation options within port operations and discuss strategies to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transport.
Emission Insights
Delve into the complexities of measuring emissions in ports. Understand how ports can contribute to a cleaner environment by monitoring CO2, air quality, and other pollutants.
Green Energy Solutions
Uncover the significance of green energy solutions in the IWT industry. Learn about the steps ports must take to facilitate and integrate sustainable energy solutions.
Event Details
Date: 29-30 October 2024
Location: Danube Commission, Budapest, hybrid event
Mark your calendars, whether you plan to join us in Budapest or participate virtually. Danube Ports Days 2024 promises to be a platform for insightful discussions, fostering collaboration and innovation to facilitate sustainable port operations. Prepare to engage in conversations that will shape the future of ports and sustainability! Stay tuned for updates and registration details!

This virtual symposium unites three EU-funded projects —
AWARD,
MultiRELOAD, and
FOR-FREIGHT — each pioneering in advancing port operations through automation. This 90-minute interactive session will not only showcase these projects’ innovative solutions for enhancing port efficiency, safety, and sustainability but will also engage participants through live polls, Q&A sessions, breakout discussions, and networking opportunities. The event will culminate in a panel discussion on the future of technology in ports, emphasizing collaborative insights and participant-driven topics. Prepare for an engaging experience that invites your active participation and input, shaping the future of automated port operations together. Dive in, collaborate, and co-create the future with us!
When: 24 April 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 CET
Where: onlineREGISTER

In a recent workshop organised by
EUSDR PA 1A and the
Danube Commission, key stakeholders gathered to address the pressing issue of low water conditions on the Danube River. The workshop, titled
"The potential of fairway information services and active traffic management to cope with low water conditions", brought together representatives from the European Commission, national waterway administrations presenting their current efforts and plans, and transnational sector organisations. Acting as the unified voice of the businesses operating on the Danube, Pro Danube took a proactive stance by highlighting the necessity to coordinate fairway management and maintenance tasks regularly, ensuring the active involvement of industry stakeholders.
Taking note of the environmental permission hurdles, the Pro Danube representative has advocated to already plan the projects jointly with the competent environmental and transport bodies to propose feasible solutions and not ones which might be stopped later.
Pro Danube has highlighted the quick wins which might be gained using the state-of-the-art digital tools, as an example: in case physical buoys must be removed from the waterway, the virtual aids to navigation elements can still stay online and be displayed in the standardised viewer software. Members of Pro Danube have also provided concrete inputs, requests and proposals to continue the good path of joint efforts for the best use of the fairway under the all-times circumstances, and expressed their thanks to the waterway managers and the Danube Commission.

In a move towards fostering collaboration and effective communication, Pro Danube recently participated in the inaugural
FAIRway Danube II Stakeholder Forum. This forum serves as a vital platform for structured and effective dialogue between key user groups, stakeholders, and the project itself. As a multidisciplinary advisory body, it comprises individuals and organisations affected by the activities of the project, ensuring a comprehensive representation of interests.
The primary objective of the forum is to facilitate the active involvement of stakeholders in the development and evaluation of innovative, flexible infrastructure elements aimed at enhancing the resilience of the Danube River, particularly during low water conditions. By encouraging participation and information exchange, the forum seeks to contribute significantly to the improvement of the FAIRway Danube II project.
The Stakeholder's Forum serves as more than a mere communication platform; it is a dynamic space where stakeholders can actively contribute to shaping the future of the FAIRway Danube II project. Participants are encouraged to provide independent and professional input, facilitating discussions, making recommendations, and offering advice on various project-related issues.
Pro Danube welcomes the establishment of the FAIRway Danube II Stakeholder Forum and expresses its full support for the periodic consultation with stakeholders. By advocating for the involvement of all relevant groups, our association emphasises the importance of having diverse perspectives around the table at all times. This inclusive approach ensures that decisions are well-rounded, reflecting the various interests and concerns of those directly impacted by the project. In a nutshell, Pro Danube's active participation in the forum reflects our commitment to constructive engagement and collaboration in shaping the future of the Danube IWT industry. By supporting the initiative of regular consultations and advocating for inclusivity, acting at the same time as the unified voice of the businesses operating on the Danube, our association decisively contributes to the creation of a robust and well-informed decision-making process for the benefit of all stakeholders affected by the outcomes of FAIRway Danube II.
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Under the lead of the Austrian Ministry of Climate Action and viadonau, the CEF-funded FAIRway Danube II performs the next step of the Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria. The project includes the test of flexible infrastructure elements in Austria, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, the upgrade of mooring places in Austria and Romania and continuation of the monitoring of fairway conditions in all Danube countries.