Port of Rotterdam: New Trial with Mixed Mooring for Dangerous Cargo

Berths for ‘cone ships’ in Rotterdam along Calandkanaal. Photo: Dick Sellenraad

On 5 April 2021, the Port of Rotterdam Authority will start on a new trial with mixed mooring for inland vessels carrying dangerous cargo. These ‘cone ships’ – named after the one or two blue cones specifying the cargo’s hazard category – will be allowed to moor side by side or next to vessels that are not carrying dangerous cargo. Research shows that this can be done without reservation.

The trial aligns with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s policy to use existing space in the port area as efficiently as possible and create more berth capacity for inland shipping. When it comes to the safe storage and handling of dangerous substances, the adoption of new rules for minimum mooring distances has already resulted in quite a few changes in the structural design of inland vessels. Read the whole news here (external link).

ERRIN and POLIS: More Attention to Urban Nodes

Regional and long distance traffic at Cologne Central. Photo: Deutsche Bahn

Seamless transport chains along the main corridors need urban nodes as interfaces between long distance, regional and urban traffic. These nodes could be better defined, say the Europe-wide networks ERRIN (“European Regions Research & Innovation Network”) and POLIS (“Cities and Regions for Transport Innovation”) in a joint proposal.

Innovation, intermodality and sustainability of urban nodes can be improved by better integration into the TEN-T network, both organizations suggest. An important step forward would be a new definition of urban nodes, looking beyond the core city and taking into account the functional region. This region may even be international and/or have several nodes. Find the presentation of the proposal here (external link).

Rhine-Alpine Talks: Overcoming Obstacles to Cross-Border Long-Distance Passenger Rail

International ICE train of Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Photo: Sebastian Terfloth, Wikimedia

108 participants from 13 countries joined the 7th Rhine-Alpine Talks. Luc T’Joen, Senior Administrator at the European Court of Auditors held a keynote on “Seamless Functioning Cross-Border Railway Operations to Connect Cities and Regions: Good for Mobility AND for the Environment?” (download link). Peter Endemann from the Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain presented Guidelines for a Seamless and Integrated Travel Chain along the Rhine-Alpine Corridor (download link), elaborated in a CEF funded project RAISE-IT.

A lively debate with international experts was moderated by Sebastian Belz, General Secretary of the European Platform of Transport Sciences. Prof. Andrea Giuricin (IT), Prof. Laurent Guihéry (FR), Dr. Mark van Hagen (NL), Dr. Marco Kampp (DE) and Maria-Theresia Röhsler (AT) debated on high-speed rail, integrated timetable, and other measures to make transport more rail-friendly and more user-friendly.

The next Rhine-Alpine Talks will be held after the Easter holidays and will deal with the topic of Inland Waterways.