TRANS2 for more future-proof waterways
Waterborne transport faces major challenges, including geopolitical instability, labour market tightness, energy transition (sustainability), the nitrogen crisis and technological developments keep the sector busy. Outdated bridges and locks and longer periods of low or high flow also cause regular delays. To make waterborne transport more robust and future-proof, Deltares is working with 15 partners in TRANS2 on climate-adaptive solutions for inland navigation. The aim is to give inland shipping more options for adapting to a changing climate.
Robust transport system
Ageing and maintenance of infrastructure - such as locks and bridges - regularly causes blockages. There are also increasing limitations in inland shipping's transport capacity due to periods of extreme low flow, such as in 2018 and 2022, as well as high flow, heat and extreme weather. Freight transport cannot adapt to this ad hoc, sometimes resulting in major damage.
If the switch to another mode of transport is made anyway, e.g. transport by road, the transport does not always return to water afterwards, which is contrary to (European) policy agreements. Developments and experiences in recent years show that there is now a need for a robust, reliable and efficient transport system.
‘Transporting goods by water is a very clean and, due to the large volumes, indispensable modality. This transport will continue to be needed in the future and cannot all be transported by road or rail. At the same time, we now face complex challenges: rising sea levels, high water levels, riverbed erosion, freshwater availability, pressure on free space, inland navigation, biodiversity/nature; all tasks require adaptation of the water system, and sharp choices have to be made. I am most proud of our connecting role in TRANS2, in which we really worked together with so many different parties on issues, understanding each other's interests.’ Rolien van der Mark, Expert on navigability of inland waterways, Deltares.
TRANSition for climate adaptation
TRANS2 stands for TRANSition towards a climate-proof and sustainable Rotterdam hinterland TRANSport and focuses mainly on climate adaptation: how can inland navigation get a better grip on a changing climate? Only (major) infrastructural adjustments to the waterway network such as construction of weir and lock complexes, installation of pumps, water buffering in reservoirs, construction of (lateral) canals and lowering lock sills will not solve the low-flow issues, because:
- Effectiveness is limited (after all, we cannot make water)
- Decision-making and construction take a long time
- Spatial integration is sometimes difficult
- Solutions for the shipping function sometimes conflict with other river functions such as flood safety, stability of structures or nature
- International agreements or laws and regulations do not allow everything
- Adaptations to the waterway may be undesirable due to other tasks.
Therefore - besides adjustments to the infrastructure and the waterway network - more is needed, and we must look for climate-adaptive solutions in the entire transport chain of the fleet, logistics, information supply and beyond. In TRANS2, 15 partners are exploring climate-adaptive solutions, coordinated by Deltares. The project was co-financed by TKI Delta Technology from the PPS (public-private partnership) innovation programme grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and has a duration of two years.
What are the achievements?
Various parties such as inland shipping companies, industry association, knowledge institutions, government (ministry and waterway authority) and port authorities have brought their knowledge and experience together in this project, which has resulted in the following, among other things.
- Work continued on the development of the Digital Twin Waterways (DTW) that simulates in more detail ship movements and related activities using a waterway network with infrastructure, fleet and trips (origins and destinations and cargo to be transported) and climate (river discharge). This development has already been started in previous TKI projects. It allows, for example, to estimate how much cargo can be carried in a fleet of vessels and what the travel time is at a certain discharge.
- The foundation has been laid for a System-Dynamic (SD) model that creates an integral picture of the transport system at a somewhat higher level of abstraction by simulating goods transport by water. The tool can support strategic decision-making. For example, the model shows that shallow-water vessels and improvement in sailing depth is the most robust measure.
- Exploratory analyses have been carried out on climate adaptation in inland navigation, such as alternative routing, future fleet composition and the use of seasonal forecasts of river discharges. For instance, if one sees a low water period coming earlier, this can be anticipated earlier, reducing damage.
- Awareness, knowledge and insight into promising topics for inland navigation have increased.
Partners
In TRANS2, Deltares cooperates with Copernicos, MARIN, TU Delft, Rotterdam School of Management / Erasmus, NPRC, Danser, Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland, Smartport, EICB, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Amsterdam, Witteveen + Bos, Rijkswaterstaat and the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Directorate-General for Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs, DGLM).
