Making inland shipping future-proof
Expert(s) |
Rolien van der Mark
How can inland shipping adapt to and gain more control over the consequences of a changing climate? Over the past two years, 15 parties have been working on this issue in the TRANS2 research project, led by Deltares; the transition to climate-proof and sustainable Rotterdam hinterland transport.
Dry years such as 2018 and 2022 show that the economic and social impact are enormous when there is insufficient transport capacity on the waterways. With the expected increase in low water levels in rivers in the future, climate adaptation is crucial. Because there are several conceivable measures and the interests at stake are significant, it is necessary for the sector and the national government to understand the effectiveness of the various measures and how they interact.
Climate-adaptive solutions
Climate-adaptive solutions are important throughout the entire transport chain when dealing with low flow. Over the past two years, the consortium has produced no fewer than twelve products for this purpose.
Among other things, a strategic System Dynamics Model has been developed that provides an integrated picture of the transport system with its various dependencies. This model can support strategic decision-making.
Digital Twin Waterways
The digital twin of the waterways has also been developed further: the Digital Twin Waterways (DTW) has now been expanded to include the European Waterway Network. Models have been created that can be used in the DTW to translate the dimensions of the vessel into loading capacity and propulsive power. This allows for better simulation of the effect of changes in ship design or the fleet mix on transport by water.
Two logistics concepts have been elaborated in TRANS2 using the DTW. First, we examined whether and how the so-called ‘hubs & spokes’ concept, in which cargo is transferred at an intermediate terminal, contributes to climate-robust inland shipping. The consequences and opportunities of detours due to congestion or disruptions were also investigated with the DTW.
Future fleet
During the project, the question arose as to how the fleet will develop in the future. Smaller vessels currently fulfil an important role in making transport by water robust, but it is uncertain whether these ships will remain in service in the future. Within TRANS2, a start has been made on investigating this trend and its consequences. This question is of great concern to the sector and is also being addressed by the Inland Shipping Table.
Follow-up
The final report of TRANS2 indicates which directions are necessary and desirable for follow-up. Recently, the project Joint Robustness: Ideas for Inland Shipping Logistics (GRIB) was also completed at SmartPort. This project identified promising ideas for further research and innovation directions for climate-adaptive inland shipping. Because there is some overlap in scope and content between TRANS2 and GRIB, it is necessary to consider the findings of both projects together when defining the next steps. The report has already made a start on this, with the following recommendations, among others:
- Further development of the Digital Twin Waterways, in particular regulating ownership and coordination of the tool.
- Depending on the results of the current study by the Inland Shipping Table, there may be a need for more in-depth or broader research into the composition of the fleet.
- Another promising line of research is the role of inland shipping in the transport of new energy sources (such as ammonia). So far, research has mainly focused on the role of inland shipping as a demand party for new energy sources, or on the import of energy sources in the port. The transport of these substances presents both an opportunity and a challenge for inland shipping. SmartPort is organising a round-table discussion with potential partners to address this issue.
The strength of TRANS2 was the scope for research without a tightly defined remit. This allowed us to develop new solutions and explore new avenues. The seeds have been sown for solutions that the parties involved want to continue working on. It was precisely this freedom that offered inland shipping opportunities and inspiration. The way in which the project was approached by Deltares enabled a creative collaboration between knowledge institutes, research agencies, governments, entrepreneurs and industry representatives. This is a method that deserves to be followed.
Geert Snoeij - Policy advisor nautical technology, water and infrastructure, and Cornelis van Dorsser, scientific policy advisor at Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland (Royal Dutch Inland Navigation)
Consortium partners
The TRANS2 project consists of the following consortium partners: Deltares (coordinator and secretary), Copernicos, MARIN, TU Delft, Rotterdam School of Management/Erasmus University Rotterdam, Coöperatie NPRC, Danser Group, Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland, SmartPort, EICB, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Port of Amsterdam, Witteveen + Bos, Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
