The 5th Stage event of the EU-funded project PLATINA3 was hosted by the Danube Commission on 19-20 October 2022
Platina3 project is building the bridge towards future research, innovation and implementation needs within IWT in Europe. The main objective of the project is to provide the knowledge base for the implementation of the EU Green Deal in view of the European Commissions’ IWT action program NAIADES III towards 2030.
The Danube Commission as project partner in PLATINA3 contributes to various topics in the project, with emphasis in addressing the relevant needs of Danube navigation.
The 5th Stage event involved a broad audience of 140 participants from various organizations, such as European Commission, representatives of the Danube Commission Member States authorities (e.g. transport ministries), waterway managers, intergovernmental organizations, science institutes, regional governments, ship owners and fleet operators and other stakeholders. This allowed PLATINA3 consortium partners to share the results of work conducted in the following areas:
- Standards for competence related to the use of zero or low emission propulsion systems and for refresher classes for environmentally friendly vessel operation;
- Roadmap for on board systems allowing automation of inland navigation vessels, vision on board systems and autonomous navigation, and competencies needed to operate them;
- Alternative energy infrastructure along the waterway and in ports;
- Consolidated R&D roadmap and implementation plan for IWT.
During the event, special attention was dedicated to current EU IWT policy, presented by Mr. Van Honacker (EC/DG MOVE) and in relation to Rhine-Danube corridor perspective for alternative energies infrastructure reflected by Mr. Baron and Mrs. Gavalyugova-Bolsi ( both EC/DG MOVE). The meeting included interactive Q&A sessions to ensure involvement of the audience and collect feedback of the IWT sector representatives with regards to main topics of the event. Besides PLATINA3 partners, external speakers from European Federation of Inland Ports, Future proof shipping BV, TU Delft, Argonics GmbH, Rijkswaterstaat, ABB Marine and Ports as well as Air Liquide provided their perspectives in the debate.
Seafar NV gave an outlook of the company’s activities in the field of remoted and fully automated navigation and took the participants on a digital visit to their office, where they got acquainted with the work of the remote control center for inland vessels.
Despite IWT being a traditionally rather conservative transport mode, it has yet a big potential and broad opportunities to offer. Digitalization and automation can be the tools to reveal this untapped potential and to ensure the modal shift.
More information about the 5th Stage event can be found on thePlatina3 web-site: https://platina3.eu/event/budapest-2022/