Legal framework
Inland water transport in Europe is covered by various systems of law. Many cooperations among the various institutions involved has led to common regulations, but the existing legal framework is still not satisfactory. Further improvements, harmonization of rules and unification are needed. Therefore, in 2015 the European Union and the Central Commission for the Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) set up CESNI (European committee for drawing up common standards in the field of inland navigation) to create common standards in the field of inland navigation. Main areas of work include technical requirements for vessels, professional qualifications for navigation personnel and inland navigation information technologies. The following contributions address these issues and provide news, developments and updates regarding the legal framework for inland navigation.
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A roadmap towards eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants of the inland navigation sector by 2050 – how to address the related economic, financial, technical and regulatory obstacles?
🖊 Raphael Wisselmann, Laure Roux, Benjamin Boyer (l.roux@ccr-zkr.org) 📅 25.01.2023
Addressing the issue of climate change is a political priority both nationally and internationally. The Paris Agreement (2015), which aims to slow the pace of climate change (maximum 2 °C increase) by reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions is one of its key components. In the Declaration signed in Mannheim on 17 October 2018, the inland navigation Ministers of the Member States of the CCNR (Germany, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland) reasserted the objective of largely eliminating GHG and other pollutants by 2050, a long-term vision which is also shared by the European Union (EU). In addition, to further improve the environmental sustainability of navigation on the Rhine and inland waterways, the same Mannheim Declaration tasked the CCNR to develop a roadmap for:
- reducing GHG emissions by 35% compared with 2015 by 2035
- reducing pollutant emissions by at least 35% compared with 2015 by 2035
- largely eliminating GHG and other pollutants by 2050.
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Inland navigation and COVID-19
🖊 Borca Bianca (bianca.borca@fh-steyr.at) 📅 18.01.2022
Inland navigation, as all modes of freight transport, is one of the critical infrastructures and was therefore affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In the research project "Inland navigation in times of crisis" the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on inland navigation in Austria were surveyed. This project was carried out within the framework of the REWWay (Research and Education in Inland Waterway Transport) cooperation between the University of Applied Science Upper Austria and viadonau. The aim was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of inland navigation during the COVID-19 crisis to contribute to a better preparation for future crises.
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Sustainability, Inland Waterway Transport, CO2 Emissions & ISO 14083
🖊 Lisa-Maria Putz-Egger (lisa-maria.putz-egger@fh-steyr.at) & Alan Lewis (alan.lewis@smartfreightcenter.org) 📅 21.10.2021
Comprising 23% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the transport sector is the third largest source of GHG emissions after industry and buildings. As other sectors decrease their reliance on oil and gas, the fossil fuel-dependent transport sector is predicted to become the most carbon-intensive sector by 2040. Without intervention, freight transport emissions will more than double by 2050. If we choose the path towards more efficient freight transport, we have the opportunity to keep transport emissions at a level similar to today. How will we know if we are on track to meet this goal? We must commit to tracking and reporting our carbon emissions.
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EUSDR PA1a & PA11 Working Group on Administrative Processes
🖊 Deniza Staewa (deniza.staewa@viadonau.org) 📅 14.07.2021
Not all Danube riparian states are in the EU/ in the Schengen area. The results are compulsory border checks and customs clearance at Schengen external border and outside the Schengen area in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. As these administrative processes and paperwork are seen as a significant competitive disadvantage for Danube navigation, there is an urgent need for simplification, harmonisation and digitalisation.
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Further Steps Towards Greening the Inland Waterways Transport Sector
🖊 Pro Danube International: Ruxandra Florescu (florescu@prodanube.eu) 📅 01.09.2020
The Danube Region needs smart and sustainable growth based on an eco-efficient, reliable transport system. To this end, Pro Danube International acting on behalf of its members (logistics service providers, port and terminal operators, barge operators, shipyards) raises and leads projects in the region that contribute to the greening, modernization and digitalisation of the IWT sector. In line with the goals of its policy and business framework known as the “Green Deal for Danube River transport” whose implementation started with the DANTE and DAPhNE transnational projects, PDI has launched in 2018 the project GRENDEL meant to facilitate in a coordinated manner the transition to an energy efficient river fleet.
