Container service between Constanta and Belgrade - FLAVIA

From Truck to Vessel!
8 examples of modal shifts
from truck to vessel

CONTENT
Foreword Seite 4
Project FLAVIA Seite 5
FLAVIA Partners Seite 6
Introduction Seite 7
Suzuki International Europe GmbH Seite 8
Lafarge Cement S.A. Seite 10
Zapf GmbH Seite 12
Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH & Co. KG Seite 14
BSH Hausgeräte Gesellschaft m.b.H. Seite 16
Industrie-Logistik-Linz GmbH & Co KG Seite 18
Nord Marine Ltd. Seite 20
Ghibli Transportation and Ltd. Seite 22
Logistikum Steyr 3

4 Logistikum Steyr
Dear reader,
an effi cient transport system is an important factor
for Europe as an attractive location for business and
industries. Using the waterways more intensively may
help the shipping industry save transport costs and thus
strengthen its competitiveness. Particularly within the
Danube corridor, the integration of the new EU-Member
States has strongly increased close economic interactions
and thus also cross-border traffi c fl ows. In this context,
road systems have, in some cases, already reached the limit
of their capacities. As a consequence, strengthening
Danube navigation, which is an environmentally friendly
mode of transport with high spare capacities, needs to
be an economic necessity as well as a strategic goal of
transport policy. Smart co-modality concepts are needed!
One of the aims of via donau as an Austrian waterway
management company is to enhance the competitiveness
of Danube navigation. The cooperation within the Danube
region, with other European waterways and with other
modes of transport is therefore of essential importance. To
ensure words are followed by actions, we are interacting
intensely with the business community, providing support
and showing them the opportunities Danube navigation
offers for high-quality logistics solutions.
Co-funded by the European Regional Development
Fund and implemented by the CENTRAL EUROPE programm,
the project FLAVIA has the goal to improve intermodal
freight logistics between Central and South Eastern
Europe and thereby to strengthen the eco-friendly modes
of transport such as inland navigation. Published in this
brochure, eight best-practice-examples of shifting freight
from road to waterway show that inland navigation is increasingly
seen as an interesting transport option as it can
convince with quality, reliability and price.
I hope that this brochure will provide the readers with
insights and contribute to an increased use of the European
waterways as part of cost-effective and environment
friendly logistic chains.
Hans-Peter Hasenbichler
Managing Director of via donau – Österreichische
Wasserstraßen GmbH

FLAVIA stands for: Freight and Logistics Advancement in Central/South-East
Europe – Validation of trade and transport processes, Implementation of improvement
actions, Application of co-coordinated structures
FLAVIA deals with the corridor logistics from Central
Europe (CE) towards South-East European (SEEC)
and Black Sea countries and involves partners from
Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany (lead partner
Hochschule Wildau), Hungary, Poland, Romania
and Slovakia. This area is the so called FLAVIA corridor.
Improving logistic fl ows among the involved regions will
contribute to the integration of markets in the enlarged
European Union. Intermodal freight transport connections
in the corridor are insuffi cient but urgently needed
for more and effi cient import and export.
FLAVIA addresses the following problems in intermodal
freight transport:
Germany
• Low modal split of rail and waterway
• Increasing road congestion
• Long delays of freight trains at borders
• Obsolete terminal technology
• Mental barriers of market players towards intermodal transport
Czech
Republic
The project does not intend to develop a new “spatial planning corridor” or
a specifi c road or rail connection. The approach of the project is oriented on
logistic processes to improve intermodal cargo fl ows instead of building new
infrastructure. This can avoid or concentrate investment funds. Through the
logistical approach and instruments used (like e.g. benchmarking, accessibility
analyses, running time and bottleneck analyses, implementation of quality
standards) new and innovative measures for a better interconnectivity of the
regions will be developed and implemented. The exchange of knowledge and
the promotion of best-practice are also part of the project.
The mentioned best-practice examples demonstrate, how inland waterway
transport can be integrated into the logistic concept of companies. Such examples
are collected in this brochure.
More information: www.fl avia-online.eu
Austria
Poland
Slovakia
Hungary
IMPRINT
Publisher:
Logistikum Steyr - the logistics competence
of the FH Upper Austria
Wehrgrabengasse 1-3
4400 Steyr
Tel. +43(0)50804-33220
Fax +43(0)50804-33299
logistikum@fh-steyr.at
www.logistikum.at
Editors, contents:
Gerald Aschauer
Christian Flotzinger
Christian Haider
Pictures:
Reprinted by kind permission of the
companies published;
Maps:
Technische Hochschule Wildau,
Layout:
Lücken-Design, luecken-design.de
June 2012
Romania
FLAVIA Countries Project Partners
Logistikum Steyr 5

FLAVIA Partners
Technical University of Applied Sciences
Wildau Research Group Transport Logistics
Pro Rail Alliance
GVZ Development Corporation Southwest
Saxony
Ministry of Economy of the Federal State
Brandenburg
University of Pardubice
Interport Servis Ltd
Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences,
Research & Development Ltd. - LOGISTIKUM
Institute of Logistics and Warehousing (ILIM)
University „POLITEHNICA“ of Bucharest
Technical University of Košice
Regional Advisory and Information Centre
Presov (RAIC Presov)
Hungarian Logistics Association
EXPRESS-INTERFRACHT Czech s.r.o
Hungarokombi
6 Logistikum Steyr

The average market share of inland waterway transport
in the EU27 amounted in 2008 to 5,61 %.
14,00%
12,00%
10,00%
8,00%
6,00%
4,00%
2,00%
0,00%
Introduction
11,92%
share of inland waterway transport 2008
10,59%
5,61%
Source: Statistical Pocketbook 2011 (tkm)
The mentioned fi gures show a slight decline in the last years.
Just Romania and Slovak Republic were able to increase
their inland waterway share.
Source: Statistical Pocketbook 2011 (tkm)
4,42%
3,57%
2,45%
Germany Romania EU 27 Hungary Austria Slovak
Republic
0,12% 0,04%
Poland Czech
Republic
share of IWW transport 2002/2008 - change in %
16,00%
14,00%
12,00%
10,00%
8,00%
6,00%
4,00%
2,00%
0,00%
- 2,62 %
+ 2,58
- 0,35 %
- 0,49 % - 0,84 %
Germany Romania EU 27 Hungary Austria
+ 0,46 %%
Slovak
Republic
- 0,75 % - 0,09 %
Poland
Czech
Republic
share of IWW 2002 14,40% 7,92% 5,89% 4,76% 4,28% 1,96% 0,76% 0,13%
share of IWW 2008 11,92% 10,59% 5,61% 4,42% 3,57% 2,45% 0,12% 0,04%
The statistics indicate that there is still potential for developing
the inland waterway sector. Especially the advantages
of this transport mode can help to increase performance
levels. Inland waterway transport can offer a good
reliability, a low environmental impact and a major capacity
for increased exploitation. Furthermore a high degree
of safety characterizes this type of transport.
Barriers still exist
The IWW transport suffers from a bad image especially
when it comes to the choice of transport mode. Trade and
logistic associations still think that inland waterway transport
is just useful for bulk goods. Furthermore, there is
confusion about IWW-specifi c procedures. These facts are
still big obstacles which this brochure should help to reduce.
The public should be informed about this safe and
sustainable mode of transport, by publishing best practice
examples in modal shift in freight transportation from road
to IWW. The brochure will encourage further shippers to
shift cargo to the environmentally friendly inland waterway.
Examples can show that there is still a lot of capacity available
and thus inland waterway transport is an economically
effi cient and responsible way to transport goods. At the
same time, multiplier political organizations, trade and logistic
associations and also the media shall get insights into
the decision processes and the constraints of inland waterway
transport.
IWW as an alternative transport mode
Inland waterway transport offers an environmentally
friendly alternative in terms of energy consumption, noise
and gas emissions. Its energy consumption per km/ton of
transported goods is approximately 17 % of that of road
transport and 50 % of rail transport. Its noise and gaseous
emissions are modest. In addition, inland waterway transport
ensures a high degree of safety, in particular when it
comes to the transportation of dangerous goods. Finally, it
contributes to decongestion of the overloaded road network
in densely populated regions. Furthermore the inland
waterway transport helps to relieve the transport modes
road and rail. One pushed convoy with a tonnage of 3.700
tons equals 148 trucks on the road which represents a line
of vehicles of 10 kilometers. According to recent studies,
the total external costs of inland navigation (in terms of
accidents, congestion, noise emissions, air pollution and
other environmental impacts) are seven times lower than
those of road transport.
Source: European Comission (http://ec.europa.eu/transport), via donau;
8 examples from different countries and
branches
The brochure „From Truck to Vessel“ demonstrates the
good diversity of transported goods on the inland waterways.
Not only bulk goods but goods like cars, cookers,
garages and steel coils are also suitable. Every shipper
mentioned different factors when it comes to the motiviation
of the modal shift to the inland waterway transport.
The following essential statements should sum up and demonstrate
the advantages of IWW:
» IWW offers greater due-date reliability
» Good way of transporting larger volumes of freight
on long distances
» Relative low energy consumption for the transport
process
» Administrative effort for specifi c goods (over sized/
overweighted products) is lower
» Low risk of product damages during the transport
» Floating warehouses help to reduce inventories
Logistikum Steyr 7

Suzuki can also travel on water
Cars from Esztergom in Hungary to
Kelheim in Bavaria
The Bavarian town of Kelheim is located between Ingolstadt
and Regensburg, and lies on the Danube and
the Main-Danube canal. On Mondays and Thursdays, the
car terminal in Kelheim‘s port is bustling with activity, with
small cars being unloaded from the inland waterway barges
after being shipped 775 km from where they are produced
by Suzuki in Hungary. The Japanese carmaker began
switching its freight transport to the inland waterways very
soon after realizing that this mode of transport is perfect
for cars.
One barge replaces 32 trucks
Suzuki has been using the Danube for transportation since
1996, with cost aspects and the desire to optimise transport
routes being the main reasons for deciding to use waterborne
transport. The subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker
Suzuki is located in the north of Hungary in Esztergom,
a picturesque town that lies directly on the Danube where
Suzuki has an assembly plant for the production of small
cars. From there the company transports its cars to Germany.
Since the factory in Esztergom has no roll-on, roll-off facility,
which would enable loading via a ramp, the cars have
to be initially transported by truck to the inland waterway
port at Csepel where they can roll directly onto the barge.
Due to the diffi culties posed by high and low tides on the
Danube, a suitable class of vessel with the right equipment
had to be used for transporting cars on the inland waterways.
Every week, two specialised barges shuttle back
and forth between Budapest and Kelheim. The ‚Heilbronn‘
and the ‚Kelheim‘ each have a capacity of 260 cars, which
is equivalent to 32 trucks. The barges need one week for
the return journey between Kelheim and Hungary. Apart
from Suzuki cars other vehicles are also transported on the
vessels, for example Ford‘s small commercial vehicle Transit
Connect, which is transported via Budapest from the production
plant in Rumania. „We have an optimal process,“
said Michael Rittner, manager for sales administration and
disposition at Suzuki. Annually, Suzuki transports some of
18.000 vehicles by inland waterway which is the equivalent
of around 2.250 truckloads.
8 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Cars
Transported tonnage
18.000 vehicles per annum, the equivalent of
2.250 trucks
Company
Suzuki International Europe GmbH
Motivation for shift to vessel
Economic aspects, environmental reasons
Date of modal shilft
As early as 1996, increased volume since 2009
Route
Esztergom (Hungary) – Csepel (port) – Kelheim
(Germany)
Length of route
775 km
Transport company
BLG Car Shipping GmbH & Co. (BLG Logistics
Group)

Strong logistics partner
Suzuki began working with BLG Car Shipping, located in
Bremen, in 1980 and has subsequently steadily expanded
the cooperation. „We chose BLG Logistics because of its
range of services, which covers all areas of logistics,“ explained
Rittner. The logistics service provider offers international,
intermodal solutions per train, ship and truck, as well as
combinations of all transport modes. In the port at Kelheim
BLG set up a vehicle terminal, which has been expanded
in several stages to its current size of 500,0000 m2. It even
has its own service centre for body cavity and underbody
protection. The plant has created new jobs.
The vehicles usually arrive by barge from Hungary, by truck
from production plants in southern Germany and by train
from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The cars are then
forwarded from Kelheim by train or truck to the customers
(car dealers).
From a logistical point of view, Suzuki‘s decision to use the
inland waters was the right one, explained Rittner, because
this environmentally friendly transport mode guarantees
an optimal and cost-effi cient supply to the Suzuki depots
in Kelheim and Bremerhaven.
Suzuki International
Europe GmbH
Michael Rittner
Manager Sales Administration
und Disposition
Phone: +49 (0)6251-5700-0
rittner@suzuki.de
www.suzuki.de
Green logistics not a buzz word
The economic effi ciency of the transport chain was the
most important argument in deciding to use waterborne
transport. It goes without saying that another aspect in the
decision process was that transporting large volumes of
freight on the inland waterways is desirable from an ecological
point of view. This is due to the fact that inland waterway
vessels are not only spacious and have a very positive
ratio of load capacity to dead space, but that they also have
comparatively low personnel costs, relatively low energy
consumption for the transport process, and are ecological
and safe. Hartmut Schwerdtfeger, press spokesman for the
BGL Logistic Group, added: „Ecological responsibility will
soon become a key criterion for awarding contracts. Some
companies are already insisting upon environmentally oriented
logistics in their invitations for tenders.“ BLG Logistics
is dedicating itself to logistics processes with minimal impact
on resources. Schwerdtfeger is convinced: „The greatest
effect for climate protection will be achieved by having
more freight transported by train and by the inland waterways.
This would help to considerably reduce CO emissi-
2
ons.“ On top of that, does it not feel good to drive a car that
has been transported and delivered using the eco-friendly
waterways or railways?
Logistikum Steyr 9

A barge will reach where others cannot
Cement in bags transported from
Elbag to Kaliningrad
Already in the 1930s, through the acquisition of a
number of companies producing lime and cement in
France, Lafarge became the largest producer of cement in
France. Lafarge Cement Company, which features the case
concerned, is a leading producer of cement in the Polish
market.
It all started with the lime
Lafarge Cement Company has production in two factories
Cementownia Kujawy and Cementownia Małogoszcz. In
both plants the whole production process is carried out
with respect for the environment. Therefore Lafarge takes
environmental considerations into account, not only when
choosing modes of transport, but also during the production
process. The history of bagged cement transport from
production facilities in Piechcin to customers in Kaliningrad,
has long been associated with rail. In Piechcin, pallets with
cement bags were loaded on rail wagons. The main run,
done by rail, went through the Polish - Russian border until
the goods reached Kaliningrad. However, this solution
caused many problems, mainly related to the clearance at
the border. Many times it happened that the wagons were
detained at the border for too long (no current capacity),
Lafarge Cement could not agree to this state of affairs with
regard to their customers. Due to the fact that problems
at the border increased over the years, Lafarge Cement
started looking for alternative transportation to distribute
their goods. After reopening the navigation on the Vistula
Lagoon, an attempt was made to supply goods via inland
waterway, says Tomasz Wojciechowski, export manager
at Lafarge Cement. This attempt was successfully accomplished.
The fi rst delivery of goods to Kaliningrad by barge
took place in August 2010. In 2011 already 47.000 tons
were transported here.
10 Logistikum Steyr
Faster and more by water
After the implementation of the new transport, goods are
distributed from Lafarge Cement to their customers in
Kaliningrad as follows. Directly at the production facility
in Piechcin, the bagged cement is loaded on trucks. Afterwards,
the goods are delivered by road to the port of
Product
Cement in bags
Transported tonnage
47.000 tons in 2011, equivalent of 1.950 trucks
Company
Lafarge Cement S.A.
Motivation for shift to vessel
Organizational-, cost- and environmental factors
Date of modal shilft
August, 2010
Route
Elbląg – Kaliningrad
Length of route
120 km

Elblag. The distance from the plant in Piechcin to the port in
Elbląg is 220 km. In the port, the unloading of cement in the
storage yard takes place, from where it is directly loaded on
a barge. Loaded barges transport the goods to customers
in Kaliningrad which takes them 10 hours.
A very important reason for starting the distribution of
goods by inland waterways, in addition to problems associated
with the clearance of goods at the border, were also
environmental issues, which are very important for Lafarge
Cement. This can be seen not only during the production
process, but also by the selection of the transport mode.
The company has specifi c concept for sustainable development.
32 trucks on 1 barge
Inland waterway deliveries are executed each year from April
to November, because in this period proper patency of
waterways is provided. In other months, depending on the
intensity of winter, patency of the waterways is not always
adequate, and therefore the use of barges for distribution
of goods is very risky. In the winter, and as a complement to
the current needs goods are still transported to Kaliningrad
by rail.
One barge transports 761 tons of goods which is the equivalent
of 32 trucks. It must be added that deliveries to customers
in Kaliningrad are carried by barge twice a week.
It is worth noting that Lafarge Cement in connection with
Lafarge Cement S.A.
Tomasz Wojciechowski
Export Manager
Phone: +48 (0)41-248-7506
tomasz.wojciechowski@lafarge.com
www. lafarge.pl
the supply of inland waterways has not incurred any costs
associated with additional investments - all investments
had to be made by collaborators executing the distribution
of goods.
Seen from today‘s perspective, Lafarge Cement company
representatives say the decision to launch the distribution
of goods by inland waterways to Kaliningrad was very
successful. The company has achieved many benefi ts, and
especially such a solution not only improved the sales process,
but also increased sales. The company has also gained
something essential in the activities of every company - savings
by reducing signifi cantly the costs of transport.
However, the success achieved so far is not enough for
Lafarge Cement. Tomasz Wojciechowski is already spinning
further plans for the future. One of these plans is the transport
of further goods to the port of Elblag not by truck, but
also by rail. Currently it has been impossible due to lack of
rail infrastructure within one port and failure to use the rail
infrastructure for years in the other port. Another challenge
and dream is the execution of inland waterway deliveries
not from the port of Elblag, but the port in Bydgoszcz,
distanced from the production facility in Piechcin by only
about 45 km. However, these plans are not dependent only
on Lafarge Cement, but mainly on the government investment
in the inland waterways. Investment which everyone
is waiting for.
Logistikum Steyr 11

Transport of garages by ship
Ship transport from
Bamberg to Krems
The biggest producer of ready-made
garages in Europe, ZAPF GmbH with
its head offi ce in Bayreuth, is going to
transport its products via waterway. 20
extrabroad garages started their journey
to the fi nal destination port Krems
in Austria.
Not only bulk goods are
suitable for ship-transports
Almost every fourth readymade garage
in Germany is produced by the Zapf
GmbH, located in Bayreuth (head offi ce).
With 14.000 produced garages per year, Zapf is the biggest
European producer in this sector. Due to this international
operation segment, the whole logistic process has to be
optimized. Zapf is using different transport modes to distribute
their products to all destinations in Europe. Since
2011 Zapf has transported their garages not only by truck
but also by train and ship. Ship-transport is an especially
sustainable transport process.
The premiere of the bimodal turnover took place on 29 th of
June 2011. A major customer in Austria ordered 20 extrabroad
garages. The garages, produced near Weidenberg in
Upper Franconia started their journey on a 100 meter long
vessel to the port of Krems. From there, the last mile to
Ziersdorf (near Vienna) was completed by lorry.
Due to the logistical transport solution, responsible people
from Zapf GmbH as well as politics and business representatives
honored the new transport method. New ways
and methods of the transport process were demonstrated
here. Such an ecological distribution is, especially for the
business location Bamberg, essential. Thanks to the new
solution 8.000 street kilometere can be saved as no road
transport is necessary. This example shows, that not only
bulk goods can be shipped on the Danube.
12 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Garage
Transported tonnage
20 garages, equivalent of 10 trucks
Company
Zapf GmbH
Motivation for shift to vessel
Cost advantages, sustainable transport process,
administrative effort, no vibration during
transport
Date of modal shilft
June, 2011
Route
Bayreuth - Bamberg (port) - Krems (port) -
Ziersdorf
Length of route
520 km

Sustainable solution relieves road and
environment
As the garages are constructed extrabroad (3.45 meters) the
transport by truck is characterized by special regulations
and requirements. This requir es a specifi c consignment
which induces high administrative work. But also the cost
factor is rising with such kind of transport. The transport by
ship can avoid all these efforts. The garages can be loaded
in a very safe way which guarantees a high transport quality
without damage during the shipping process. There are
no dangerous vibrations which spoil the garages. This is an
obligatory factor, especially for the fi nal installation of the
products. The fl oating cargo is the most environmentally
friendly way to bring the Zapf Garages to their customers.
From the fi rst production process to the fi nal transport, a
sustainable use of all resources is guaranteed.
Perfect cooperation with the port of
Bamberg
As the head offi ce in Bayreuth has no connection to the
shipping routes the proximity to the port Bamberg with
its range of professional services is a big advantage for
Zapf. One factor is the quick transshipment of the products
which leads to great effi cency. All partners are satisfi ed with
the process. There is a timeframe of up to 14 days in which
Zapf GmbH
Reinhard Lindner
Vertriebsleiter Export
ZAPF-Garagen
Phone: +49 (0)921-601-436
r.lindner@zapf-gmbh.de
www.zapf-gmbh.de
the goods have to be transported. The project had a lead
time of 9 months. As a result an exact planning of the process
was possible. This is a key factor when it comes to the
enablers of the project.
As the needed infrastructure and the required services already
exist, no further expenditures were necessary. The pre
run to the port Bamberg is organized by Zapf. The perfect
cooperation with the terminal operator and the shipping
company are characteristics of the project.
„At the beginning I was not sure if the whole transport process
would be practicable, especially concerning costs and
handling. In retrospect we are very happy with the result.
For the future we will try to include the waterway Danube
more in our transportation planning,“ analysed the export
sales manager for Zapf, Mr. Reinhard Lindner.
To sum up, it can be said that the environmental friendly
transport solution helps the company Zapf to secure existing
jobs and supports the port Bamberg with a certain
quantity of goods. This strengthens the domestic econonomy.
Logistikum Steyr 13

Worldwide beech timber exports - via inland
Sawn timber in containers
from Aschaffenburg to
Antwerp and Rotterdam
Good connections to transport infrastructure
are a decisive factor for companies,
especially when it comes to choosing
a new location. Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH,
a producer of sawn beech timber, decided to
locate its third sawmill in Aschaffenburg in
Bavaria, directly in the Bavaria Harbour. The
location lies directly on the river Main which
offers one great advantage. Three transport
modes are available for forwarding freight:
by road, rail and inland waterway. For Pollmeier, the proximity
of waterborne transport facilities was of particular
importance.
Sawn timber in containers
As a raw material, timber is sustainable, innovative and ecological,
and is a true all-rounder with a wide range of applications.
Sawn beech timber is used mainly for furniture,
interior construction and for fl ooring. Beech wood is hard
and resists abrasion, is easy to work with and is the most
commonly used hardwood in Germany.
In 2007, Pollmeier opened its new sawmill in Aschaffenburg
in Bavaria, choosing the location on the one hand due to
the town‘s proximity to transport waterways, and on the
other hand because it is close to a forest region with a plentiful
supply of trees. In this way the logs used for producing
sawn timber do not have to be transported further than 150
km. „Traffi c avoidance“ is how Pollmeier‘s head of PR and
Marketing, Jan Hassan, puts it.
Pollmeier produces sawn beech wood for markets overseas:
the USA, China and for Arabian countries. The timber
is packed in large, 40-foot freight containers, which leave
the sawmill by truck for the short 300 meter journey to the
port terminal. There the containers are loaded via cranes
onto river barges that are destined for Antwerp or Rotterdam.
The waterway has a length of approx. 770 km, initially
14 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Sawn beech timber
Transported tonnage
21.600 tons per annum, the equivalent of 900
trucks
Company
Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH & Co. KG
Motivation for shift to vessel
Economic aspects, environmental reasons
Date of modal shilft
2007
Route
Aschaffenburg (Bavaria, Germany) - Rotterdam
(Netherlands) and Antwerp (Belgium)
Length of route
772 km
Transport company
Several different transport companies in
cooperation with the logistics specialists
Contargo GmbH & Co. KG

on the river Main before the barges join the Rhine for the
onward journey. Pollmeier dispatches around 1000 such
freight containers each year, with 900 of those being transported
on water. In all other cases the waterway is blocked,
something that does not happen very often, according to
Hassan. The company annually dispatches 21.600 tons of
sawn wood by river barge, saving around 900 truck journeys.
Excellent cooperation with logistics
specialists
Pollmeier uses several transport companies for shipping its
beech wood products. In most cases, the company Contargo
GmbH is contracted to process the containers at the
terminal and load them onto the barges. Contargo‘s offi -
ces are located directly in the port. „During the summer
everything smells of wood,“ said Frank Pfeiffer, operations
manager at Contargo Aschaffenburg. Contargo is a neutral
service provider with a fl eet of 22 vessels that operate
along the rivers Main and Rhine, and 18 inland waterway
container terminals in Germany, the Netherlands, France
and Switzerland. Contargo‘s smallest barge has a capacity
of 54 TEUs, with the largest carrying 700 TEUs.
Pollmeier dispatches several dozen containers per week by
barge. A vessel with the name of Gerald Albert, a so-called
main-feeder, transports Pollmeier‘s sawn beech timber
from Aschaffenburg to the hub at Koblenz. There the containers
are transferred to larger vessels with such resonant
names as Azolla, Covano, Rhenus Lünen, and Metropolis.
Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH &
Co. KG
Jan Hassan
Public Relations & Marketing
Phone: +49 (0)36926-945-271
jan.hassan@pollmeier.com
www.pollmeier.com/de/
Together with other loads, the timber is transported to the
western seaports of Rotterdam or Antwerp where the containers
are loaded onto ships. The journey to the seaports
takes three days.
Contargo offers fi xed routes and schedules with a high
frequency and makes sure that the freight is transported
effi ciently. The company aims to optimally combine the advantages
of each of the three main transport modes - road,
rail and waterway - in order to offer its customers sustainable
transport solutions with low CO emissions.
2
An economical and ecological solution
For Pollmeier‘s Jan Hassan, economic factors are the main
reason for choosing waterborne transport, which is cheaper
than by truck. Naturally, Pollmeier also attaches great
importance to the environment. It is therefore especially
pleasing that the cheapest solution is also the most ecological.
„All in all an easy decision to make,“ according to
Hassan.
An additional argument in favour of inland waterways is
that Rotterdam and Antwerp are too far away for regular
truck journeys, whereas the „water-based“ transport chain
is very effi cient. Normally the overseas customers do not
even know that river barges play such an important role in
the transport chain. A pity, because waterborne transport
could do with some positive publicity to strengthen its environmental
image.
Logistikum Steyr 15

Vessels replace mega trucks
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte
GmbH using the inland waterway for
transporting their products
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH is the largest
manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and
one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide.
Since 2004 the supply to the UK market has also been carried
out by transport on the inland waterway.
The situation
Today, BSH operates 42 factories in 13 countries in Europe,
the USA, Latin America and Asia. Together with a global
network of sales and customer service fi rms, the BSH family
is today made up of about 70 companies in 49 countries,
with a total workforce of over 45,000 employees. Within the
brand portfolio the main brands are Bosch and Siemens.
The product range encompasses large and small home appliances,
fl oorcare and hot water appliances. At BSH, the
logistics department is responsible for distribution. The defi
nition of distribution at BSH is described by the follwing
statement. “The right goods have to be delivered in the
right quantity, on time and at reasonable cost.“ To demonstrate
how this philosophy is carried out, the distribution of
cookers to the UK market is shown in this case. Here different
transport modes are used for the distribution process.
Previously, the European market leader had relied on road
transport to supply the UK market with cookers, fridges
and freezers and dishwashers. Every day, numerous mega
trailers made the journey from the production sites in Southwestern
Germany – Bretten, Dillingen and Giengen – to
its main UK warehouse in Milton Keynes. But one problem
always occured. The trucks got more and more frequently
stuck in traffi c jams. The overland routes are increasingly
congested. Therefore, transport by truck is not a long
term solution for BSH. The costs for energy are increasing,
toll costs are high and legislative requirements concerning
driving times have to be fullfi lled. Thus the truck is not as
economically effi cient as many people in the busines think.
16 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Cookers
Transported tonnage
Approximately 1.000 loaded trucks
Company
BSH Bosch und Siemens Haushaltsgeräte
Motivation for shift to vessel
Safety/Security aspects, reliability, increasing costs
for roat transport, environmental friendly way of
transport
Date of modal shilft
2004
Route
Bretten (Germany) - Milton Keynes (UK)
Length of route
900 km
Transport company
Robert Kukla GmbH

New freight transport strategy was required
As a consquence of the situation described, BSH was looking
for new ways of transporting their products to the UKmarket.
A new freight transport strategy incorporating the
waterborne mode is to bring about greater effi ciency. The
following reasons describe why the solution is useful for
BSH:
» Waterborne transport is less expensive and offers greater
due-date reliability.
» Costs are constant and easier to calculate.
» The special oversize containers guarantee economic
effi ciency.
» As “fl oating warehouses”, the containers help to reduce
inventories.
» The shift to water results in signifi cant environmental
advantages.
The products from the factories in Southwestern Germany
are consolidated in Bretten. Every day, special heavy goods
vehicle transport oversize containers to the trimodal terminal
at Gernsheim. Here, the containers are transferred
to inland waterway vessels for the voyage to Rotterdam
and their onward movement by short sea ships to Purfl eet
(UK). From there, their fi nal leg to the main warehouse in
BSH Hausgeräte Gesellschaft
m.b.H.
Andreas Tonke
Phone: +49 (0)89-4590-2308
andreas.tonke@bshg.com
www.bshg.de
Milton Keynes is carried out by truck. The volume of the
modal shift is 12.24 million tkm per annum, which means
that, since 2004, the road infrastructure has been relieved
of 61.2 million tkm. CO emissions have been reduced by
2
856.457 tons per annum, which means that to date a total
of 4.282.286 tons of CO have been avoided.
2
Motivation for modal shift
In cooperation with the haulier Robert Kukla GmbH the
created transport solution has now been working since
2004. The investments made in containers (approximately
300.000 Euros) and special equipment (like vehicles - approximately
175.000 Euros) were necessary to operate on
a high level. The motivation for the effort was clearly defi -
ned. First the transport by vessel guarantees higher safety
and security for the goods and the whole shipping process.
Also the high reliability of the transport situation is mentioned
when talking about the advantages of the current
transport solution. Due to this strategy BSH was been able
to save 1.000 loaded trucks.
„We expect from our logsitics service provider continous
improvements for the whole transport process. But not
only the enhancement of the process, the development of
new solutions are also important for us“, says Andreas Tonke,
responsible for transport at BSH.
Logistikum Steyr 17

All digital - and yet these coils can hardly be
overlooked!
Information transparency is considered to be indispensable
in todays transportation and logistics processes and
plays a major role at the company Industrie-Logistik-Linz
(ILL) as well. The following sections will investigate why information
transparency is that important at ILL and why the
company focuses on a means of transportation that is generally
referred to as slow and unreliable.
ILL’s fi rst priority is to ensure best customer services. In order
to achieve this, ILL does not only provide highest quality, but
also complete handling of all processes involved. If at any
given time, location of customer goods and means of transportation
are clear, the logistics supply chain can be planed
and controlled optimally. Consequently, a smooth process
can be guaranteed – even with an inland water vessel!
Transportation of steel coils from Linz to
Krems
Between Linz and Krems 100,000 tons of steel coils are
shipped on the Danube via inland water vessels every
year. The loading process in Linz as well as the transportation
control process to Krems is carried out by
ILL. The physical transportation of goods via vessel
is provided by third party business partners of ILL.
Transparency as a key success factor
In order to combine all resources (inland water vessel,
wagon, staff) accurately, a high degree of transparency in
the system is needed. In this context, the implementation
of a perfect logistics process demands specifi c information
like facts and fi gures about the inland waterway as well as
the vessels. Data like water-level, vessel position, lock status
or estimated time of arrival of the vessel are transmitted
via interface of the RIS-Provider (River Information
System) and are subsequently processed within the ILL
system. Furthermore, the current position of the wagon
- which delivers the steel coils from the production plant
to the port - is presumed to be known. In addition, the
production program of the customer is linked with the
18 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Steel coils
Transported tonnage
100.000 tons annualy equates to 75 vessels
Company
Industrie-Logistik-Linz GmbH & Co KG
Motivation for shift to vessel
Increased active power, reduced costs
Route
Linz - Krems
Length of route
About 130 km
Shipping company
MSG

current stock of inventory at Linz and Krems. At ILL the
above mentioned information is always available digitally.
Current statuses of all resources are linked online with each
other permanently. This enables a frictionless process and
improves the planning ability of the whole supply chain.
Automatically controlled supply chain
A system chooses automatically which coil will be loaded
on the vessel. Both, the optimal supply within the logistics
chain and the optimal capacity utilization of the means
of transportation (in this case the inland water vessel) is
integrated in the decision making process of the system.
As if by magic, everything runs smoothly. In general,
the system works without human intervention and
is just supplemented by a controlling station. The
employee at this working place carries out deviation
management and only interferes in case of major incidents.
Reduced costs by effi ciency
What are the real benefi ts of this information transparency
for ILL? Well, digital information enables a considerable
increase in active power of the system and therefore,
costs can be reduced signifi cantly. Moreover, the inland
water vessel can be used as a fl oating stock, which
will result in a further decrease in inventory costs.
Industrie-Logistik-Linz
GmbH & Co KG
Michael Wasner
Head of Research & Development
Phone: +43 (0)732-6936-9082
michael.wasner@ill.co.at
www.ill.co.at
ILL - a pioneer in the fi eld of transportation
control
Nowadays, the digital mapping of processes is at least as
important as the physical delivery of the goods itself. All
logistics chains at ILL are completely transparent and are
automatically controlled. Due to ILL, even the inland water
vessel – a means of transportation that is considered as slow
and unreliable – becomes a true competitor for train and truck.
However, the transportation chain from Linz to Krems is only
a small part of all ILL’s transportation chains on the inland
waterway. Altogether 500,000 tons of steel goods per year
are handled in the sheltered port warehouse at ILL in Linz
and those numbers are steadily increasing. Furthermore,
the current customer demand allows for expansion, so
that a doubling of transshipment quantity is expected to
arise in the following ten years. ILL is well prepared for this
development and is able to react upon potential increases
in transport volumes by providing appropriate capacities.
In addition, ILL is always represented in national and
international research projects that deal with telematics
or the use of information in general. Therefore,
ILL is most notably a pioneer in the inland water
transportation. However, due to its outstanding process
designs, ILL is leading in other transport control chains
as well - this company is always on the cutting edge.
Logistikum Steyr 19

Container service between Constanta
and Belgrade
Container service between Constanta
and Belgrade
Nord Marine is recognized as the initiator and leading
partner in the fi rst ever container service between
Constanta and Belgrade, offering weekly departures. Their
products are containers which belong to customers like
ZIM, MSC, CMA CGM, MAERSK, Hapag Lloyd, COSCO and
NORASIA. The transit time from Constanta to Belgrade is 7
days and from Belgrade to Constanta 5 days. The fi rst voyage
took place at the end of April 2005.
Trans Danube Container Service
In today’s world of shipping Nord Marine Ltd. is known as
a fast moving customer and market-oriented organization,
offering quality services and always looking for operational
excellence.
The company traditionally holds a strong position in the
fi eld of ocean/river transport and international freight forwarding.
A wide range of services are offered, all fully conversant
with today‘s requirements and the latest developments in
the international shipping industry, such as port agency
and husbandry, liner agency, bunkering by barge or truck
and many more. In Romania, they operate on a large network
of ports including: Constanţa, Midia, Mangalia, Galaţi
and Brăila, Chernavodă-Black Sea Canal and Sulina Canal.
In 2005, together with the Bulgarian River Shipping Company
and Jugoagent (Serbia) they started a regular weekly
container service on the route Constanta-Drobeta Turnu
Severin-Belgrade via barges. At present, the two barges alternatively
perform regular transport voyages on the route
Constanta-Drobeta Turnu Severin-Belgrade, including
roundtrip, 1-2 convoys per month.
It is a well-known fact that road transport is a major competitor
for all other transport means when it comes to container
transport. However, Nord Marine Ltd chooses to annually
transport annually approximately 4.000 million tons
20’ containers and 1.000 million tons 40’ containers. With
40 pieces shipped weekly, the logistic chain includes: con-
20 Logistikum Steyr
Product
Containers belonging to: ZIM, MSC, CMA CGM,
MAERSK, Hapag Lloyd, COSCO, NORASIA
Transported tonnage
4.000 million tons 20’ containers and 1.000 million
tons 40’ per year
Company
Nord Marine Ltd.
Motivation for shift to vessel
Economically effi cient and environmentally
friendly
Date of modal shift
April 2005
Route
Constanta to Belgrade
Length of route
1.166 km
Transport company
Bulgarian River Shipping Company and
Jugoagent

tainerized freight, trucks, CSCT storage and fi nally barges. It
is estimated that the service allows savings of 4000 trucks
per year which has a signifi cant environmental impact.
Adavantages as well as obstacles
characterize inland waterway transport
The logistic chain benefi ts from several advantages of the
Constanta – Belgrade service via inland waterway which
includes the direct connection with the major Black sea port.
In Constanta, there are no weight limitations which creates
potential for future developments. Further exist lower on/
pre-carriage rates compared with the other ports via which
Belgrade is presently served (Rijeka, Bar, Thessaloniki,
Koper). The possibility for direct transshipment from
vessel to barge and vice versa is ecologically expedient.
These facts are in full conformity with the European
environmental projects for stimulation of the transport via
inland waterways.
There are however several obstacles and limitations which
must be managed in order to ensure the longevity of the
service and maintain its competitive advantage. As is the
case with all waterway modes of transport, the service’s
regularity may be hampered by unfavorable weather
such as: ice formation during winter time and decreasing
water levels during summer. In addition, the service faces
diffi culties in the bottleneck Belgrade/Panchevo due to
slow operation. On an administrative level, due to the
Nord Marine Ltd.
Fiacescu Victor
Manager Ship Agency
and Operations
Phone: +40 (0)9072008518
victor@nordmarine.com
http://www.nordmarine.com/
customs inspections of the transit cargo in Constanta, the
added expenses for the customers represent a threat to the
attractiveness of the service.
One of the major advantages of the Trans Danube Container
Service is the fact that it leads the way to extension
of the container service, with concrete plans to expand to
Budapest and Vienna (Krems). Currently Bulgarian River
Shipping Company is working intensively on a new project,
which will allow extension of the container service also via
self-propelled ships which will help to reduce the transit
time, making it even more attractive. The fi rst phase of the
project, opening of the service to Budapest, will be completed
by the end of 2012.
In addition to its environmental benefi ts, the service truly
represents a good practice example of regional cooperation
as the ship service provider is Romanian, the operator is
Bulgarian and the main benefi ciary is Serbian. With support
from authorities the service launched since 2005, the
operator Bulgarian River Shipping Company has reacted
quickly and effi ciently by preparing facilities for container
service on the Danube, whereas the Romanian Shipping
Agency „Nord Marine“ was assigned with the responsibility
to receive and manage containers in the port of Constanta
thus, ensuring undisturbed service on the Romanian side of
the shipping line.
Logistikum Steyr 21

Gas-turbines and windmills transported on the
Danube
IWW transports from
Veresegyhaza to Constanza
GE Hungarian division has always played
a leading role in the worldwilde energy
sector. They support partners all over the world
with the high technology of their own products.
Gas turbines transported on the
inland waterway
As the production is located in Veresegyhaza,
which is 20 kilometers away from the port of Budapest, the
river Danube lends itself as the means of transport to the
port of Constanza. As the gas turbines have large dimensions,
the transportation via road traffi c causes diffi culties for
the Hungarian forwarders. Ghibli has the competence as
they can offer overweight transportation. One gas turbine
is 60 meters height and weighs of more than 45 tons. Such
dimensions would demolish the complete infrastructure
(e.g.: road) needed.
Cooperation with logistic suppliers
Ghibli Transportation Ltd has been operatin on the Logistics
market for 15 years. The company has a broad knowledge
about the different type of transportations like water, road,
railway and air cargo. Transportation usually takes place
via motorways, but a few of the companies total income
comes from the waterway and train forwarding. However
Ghibli is an experienced forwarder operating on the rivers.
But without any help they would not be able to fulfi l the requests
of GE. In cooperation with Plymsol Ltd. it is possible
to work on long term relations. As the Ghibli headquarters
are located on the well known free-port of Budapest they
have the possibility for a trimodal logistic solution. With a
15.000 m 2 warehouse, they can store a wide range of the
transported products. Most of the common shipments are
fl oats from coal, timber and different bulk goods (corn,
wheat etc.). These products are the affordable goods which
are transported on the river Danube and the Hungarian
railway lines. Nowadays a low percentage comes from the
total income of the multimodal transportations (waterway
transport, train) of the Hungarian GDP but Ghibli has an
22 Logistikum Steyr
Ghibli Transportation Ltd.
Peter Bognar
Business Development Manager
Product
Gas turbines, wind mills
Transported tonnage
27.000 tons per annum, the equivalent of 1125 trucks
Company
Ghibli Transportation and Ltd.
Motivation for shift to vessel
Economic aspects, environmental reasons
Date of modal shilft
2008
Route
Veresegyhaza – Budapets Port - Constanza
Length of route
830 km
Phone: +36 (0)1-207706787
bognar.peter@ghibli.hu
http://www.ghibli.hu/
Transport company
Several companies in cooperation with Plymsol Ltd.
excellent possibility to enlarge its capacity. At the port of
Budapest there is a well equipped container terminal with
massive weight lifting opportunities. Nevertheless, the low
water level of the rivers and inconstant weather conditions
do not enable all-season transport. However, the cheapest
and valuable solution is the waterborne transport connection.
The Hungarian part of the river Danube is fi tted for the
transportation of gas turbines, wind mill parts, automotive
parts, and agricultural products.

The brochure was created in course of the project Flavia (www.fl avia-online.de).
The project is funded by the European Union programme Central Europe (European Regional Development Fund).
Logistikum Steyr | Wehrgrabengasse 1-3 | 4400 Steyr
T +43 (0) 50804-33220 | F +43 (0) 50804-33299
E logistikum@fh-steyr.at | W www.logistikum.at