PLATINA 2 presents intermediate results

Action Field: Markets & Awareness

• Modal shift: In April, 36 representatives of the recycling business, shipping and forwarding companies, Danube ports and transshipment service providers met to discuss the potential for shifting secondary raw material, such as scrap metal, to waterway transport. Findings from the market analysis conducted for the Danube Corridor in 2014 were verified. Two recycling companies (Schaufler GmbH, Donau Metall GmbH) emphasised the importance and potential of Danube navigation for recycling products but also pointed out current challenges and space for improvements. The participants discussed cooperation possibilities in the plenum as well as in B2B meetings. 

Action Field: Innovation & Fleet

• External costs: The draft study "Review of European data sets and identification of gaps for calculation of external cost of emissions to air by inland waterway transport” has been completed. The results show that the quality of the datasets on a European level is rather poor. A large gap is the lack of detailed data on fuel consumption and emissions in relation to the geographic area where the emissions take place. Another weak point is the lack of reliable data on the number of kilometres sailed with empty cargo holds and consequently the average payload of vessels. Options to close the gaps are identified as well and will be discussed with experts and stakeholders in workshops planned to take place in September and November 2015.

Action Field: Qualifications

• Electronic service & logbook: PLATINA 2 supported a first research on a concept for European electronic Service Record Books (e-SRB) which will support the process of modernisation and harmonisation of professional qualifications in IWT. A first cost estimation was made, various pilots were identified, as well as the implications of a centralised vs a decentralised database were investigated.
• Logistics training: On 3 June 2015, 39 participants took part in the River Show in Constantza, Romania. The River Show was initiated by PLATINA 2 in order to assist logistics education and training institutes to integrate IWT in their curricula, and to have an interactive session with the industry. Next River Shows will be organised in Croatia, the Netherlands and Germany to which you are cordially invited.  

Action Field: Infrastructure

• Information system for infrastructure related information: A comprehensive information system for European waterway infrastructure was prepared, taking into account the European Commission's TENtec system and further European and national data sources. Research concluded that many data required for IWT-related policy-making can be derived from existing data services. The challenge lies in harmonisation of data content and structures across Europe, data accessibility and data protection as well as automatisation of data gathering and consolidation. PLATINA 2 defined data collection requirements, possible data collection systems, and a data glossary ready for technical implementation.
• River information Services: European analysis shows multimodal logistics service providers need RIS. The key problem of why publicly operated RIS systems do not meet logistics demand is secure and legal data exchange. An international neutral Clearing Centre for RIS in transport and logistics is the most promising solution, which is broadly supported by key stakeholders. The report will soon be published on www.naiades.info. Furthermore, the RIS portal was updated and elaborated together with key users to make it more interactive and appealing to a wider range of users.
• Expert Group on Waterway Maintenance: Waterway administrations in Europe face similar challenges in maintenance activities. PLATINA 2 stimulates mutual learning from maintenance practice across waterway corridors by providing a European platform for knowledge exchange. After selection and evaluation of good practices on fairway maintenance, discussions on the draft manual are envisaged with the PLATINA 2 Advisory Board and the CCNR working group on infrastructure & environment in the fall. The expert group with members from DE, FR, AT, NL, BE, RS, RO, SK, CZ, Sava Commission and Danube Commission will issue the good practice manual  in December 2015.