Annual report 2012/2013 - EBU

SpecialReportsCONTAINERISATION- CHALLENGINGDEVELOPMENTSAs a result, in 2012 many shippers shiftedtheir goods from road to inland waterway.issue once and for all. Under the name“Nextlogic”, a project was initiated bythe inland container shipping industry,PASSENGER TRANSPORT –ENORMOUS POTENTIALHowever, reliability of the total trans-financed by the Port of Rotterdam andAlthough the passenger transport seg-One of the segments in the inland ship-port chain is key to the success of inlandthe Dutch Transport Ministery, aimed atment was hit much later by the economicping industry that has extensively been incontainer shipping. Unfortunately, itsconsolidation of small container volumes,crisis than the freight transport segment,the picture during the last few years is thetraditional reliability suffered severelyinformation exchange, performanceduring 2012 we witnessed an increasinginland container shipping industry. Theby the serious congestion on deepseamonitoring, and dynamic planning.number of passenger shipping compa-developments with regard to the Secondterminals in the sea ports of RotterdamA unique feature of this initiative is, thatnies being confronted by a considerableMaasvlakte (“Maasvlakte 2”) in the Port(and Antwerp).it is the first of its kind to include all rel-decrease in turnover.of Rotterdam, the obligation the Port ofevant stakeholders. More than 25 marketRotterdam imposed on its customers toTherefore, in 2012 the inland containerparties are actively involved. In the courseNotwithstanding the economic dip, thehave 45% of all hinterland container trans-shipping industry continued its seriousof 2013 a new tool for dynamic planning,potential of waterways for passengerport carried out by inland waterways,efforts, together with all relevant stake-the so called “brain”, will be launched,transport remains enormous. Passengerand the green image of inland waterwayholders such as deepsea shipping lines,causing a real system leap into a totallytransport on the European inland water-transport, all constitute a great incentivedeepsea terminals, empty depots, anddifferent way of planning terminal slotsways not only plays an important role into the inland waterway container market.inland terminals, to solve this toughand barges.the wide range of touristic and leisure services,with various sightseeing, day tripand river cruise ships, but also in respectto (regional) mobility, with several ferryTransitional provisionsPassenger Rightsservices providing swift, efficient andAs in the freight transport segment, someFrom 18.12.2012 Passenger Rights are ap-reliable mobility to numerous commuters.of the transitional provisions with regardplicable also for the cruise ships on inlandWaste treaty:discharge of waste waterto technical regulations that will end after2015, will cause serious technical andfinancial issues to the passenger shippingwaterways. First experience shows thatmost of the regulations are adjusted forscheduled and time-tabled services. SomeOn 31st December 2011 the ban onindustry. The transitional provision thatof them are not appropriate to the situa-overboard discharge of waste water foris likely to have a massive impact is thetion in the cruise industry or have to bepassenger ships entered into force. Anone on the regulation with regard to theinterpreted more distintinctive for theincreasing number of passenger shippingsecond, independent engine room, wherecruise business.companies have during 2012 been able tothe costs involved are in no relation to therealize proper discharge facilities ashore.potential safety benefits. At the end ofHowever, there is still no clarity with2012 work on this issue started; it will beregard to the technical specifications forcontinued in 2013.water treatment plants and adequatetransitional provisions for existing watertreatment plants.annual report 2012/201312 13