French Strike Disrupts Rhine River Traffic
Rhine river traffic came to a standstill in some places on Wednesday due to strikes against French government plans to raise the pension age, with sections of the river in France, Germany and Switzerland affected, a CGT union representative and Germany's Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) said.Around 1.28 million people in France had participated in a sixth day of protests on Tuesday against a draft law that would see the pension age delayed by two years to 64.A blockade at Strasbourg lock on the Rhine was cleared by police and an evacuation of the blockades at the Marckolsheim lockâŠ
OCIMF Updates Safety Guide for Tank Barges and Terminals
Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the inland navigation sector with the support of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) have collaborated with other European organizations to produce the second edition of the International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-barges and Terminals (ISGINTT).The purpose of ISGINTT is to improve the safe transport of dangerous goods at the interface between inland tank barges and other vessels or shore facilities (terminals).
Damen CEO Berkvens Receives CEMT Award
The Council of the Confederation of European Maritime Technology Societies presented Damen CEO René Berkvens with the CEMT Award on Thursday, August 24, at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. The Council bestows the award annually in recognition of the substantial contribution made to the success of the European maritime industry by an individual, company or organization. The contribution can be either technological, political or economic. Berkvens received the award in recognition of his leadership of Damen and the contribution this has made toward the successes of the European maritime sector.
Public Support Needed to Promote Inland Navigation in Baltic Region
Inland navigation has a lot of potential in the Baltic Sea Region, even though the geographical and administrative conditions for inland navigation differ from country to country. This was highlighted by the panel that debated the future of inland navigation in Sweden as part of the 7th Strategy Forum for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The Strategy Forum was organized in Stockholm and gathered together over 1200 participants to discuss future challenges and opportunities in the Baltic Sea Region. The panel was organized by Interreg Baltic Sea Region project EMMA that aims to enhance inland navigation in the Baltic Sea Region. The panellists stressed that inland water transport is cost-efficient, safe and environmentally friendly compared to truck and train transport.
New Simulators for Dutch Inland Navigation Center
The Maritieme Academie Holland has selected VSTEP as simulator partner for its new Inland Navigation Center in Harlingen, signing a deal that includes the purchase of a Full Mission Inland Navigation Simulator and three Inland console trainers. The simulator center will be the first to provide simulator training in full accordance with the requirements for Inland simulators by the Central Commission for the Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR). Last month, Maritieme Academie HarlingenâŠ
First LNG-powered EcoLiner Launched
Damen Shipyards Group launched the first LNG-powered Damen EcoLiner inland shipping tanker at its Romanian yard in early February. The EcoLiner, developed to deliver fuel economy for inland shipping operators while at the same time cutting emissions, features a design that combines conventional, proven engineering with sustainable innovations, including the worldâs first installations of the ACES Air-Lubricated Hull, a gas-electrical shaft propulsion system and one of the first Van der Velden FLEX Tunnel installations. According to Damen, the pioneering vessel reduces fuel costs by up to 25%.
Inland Waterway LNG Tanker Christened
The 'LNG Greenrhine'' has been christened by Mrs. Edwige Belliard, president of Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). The LNG Greenrhine is an electrically powered ship with diesel generators fuelled by LNG (Liquid Natural Gas). The use of LNG, compared to the traditional diesel oil, reduces emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than 25% and 80% respectively. Moreover, no sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particles are released. Due to the configuration of four enginesâŠ
Damen Supplies Hybrid Patrol Vessel to Waternet
Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld-Giessendam recently delivered the Damen Patrol Vessel 1304 Hybrid, designed and constructed for Waternet (the Water Network Foundation). The most striking features of this hybrid patrol vessel are that it is clean, quiet, and can sail under Amsterdamâs bridges along the through routes. The âWaterspreeuwâ â meaning âDipperâ in English â was ceremonially named by the Amsterdam Executive Councillor CarolienGehrels on June 17, 2013. Waternet is an innovative water organization that takes the entire water cycle as its basis.
Damen EcoLiner Provides New Vessel on LNG
Damen EcoLiner provides new vessel on LNG and integrated shipping concept for the inland shipping industry; âTotal solutionâ concept combines shipbuilding, ship management, the environment and economics. Bodewes Binnenvaart B.V., Damen Shipyards Groupâs inland waterway shipyard, and inland shipping company QaGroup are set to launch an entirely new inland shipping concept, which they believe will set a new industry standard in inland shipping. Both companies have combined their knowledge as to designing and operating the vessel.