Activities
Hinterland Transport, Gateways and Innovative Logistic Concepts
According to the European policy of transport, the 2011 upcoming White Paper issued by the European Commission highlights the success but also the weaknesses of this policy. The European Commission especially regrets that in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s the transport growth has neglected cleaner and less congested modes of transport such as rail and inland waterways. Nowadays, the European Commission concentrates on more sustainable Trans-European Network of Transport for 2020 reducing negatives externalities which will undoubtedly lead to some changes in the current supply chains.
In the heart of these logistic chains, maritime ports play a key role as an interface between European markets and the rest of the world. The major European Seaports are mostly landlord ports. They increasingly invest directly or indirectly in a better inland connections to their hinterlands. Investment in the inland ports or rail and barge infrastructure is rather simple measurement. The more difficult issues lies at the understanding of how logistic chains can be set up, which key factors lead the actors to choose one route or another?
In the heart of these logistic chains, maritime ports play a key role as an interface between European markets and the rest of the world. The major European Seaports are mostly landlord ports. They increasingly invest directly or indirectly in a better inland connections to their hinterlands. Investment in the inland ports or rail and barge infrastructure is rather simple measurement. The more difficult issues lies at the understanding of how logistic chains can be set up, which key factors lead the actors to choose one route or another?
Furthermore, in the perspective of the new European transport policy
for 2020, it is very important to answer how European supply chains
could change and how port authorities could anticipate these changes and
influence them.
In that context it is crucial how the current European supply chains can be influenced by the actions of port authorities and by new European initiatives in following aspects:
• Finding ways to improve the landside interaction with ports,
• Examining connectivity issues and innovative logistics concepts such as Dryports,
• Enhancing combined transport for rail, road and inland waterways to create seamless transport solutions.
Both strands add up to one central vision: tackling the important issues to improve communications and connectivity with and between ports to make things more practical for shippers and users, helping them to create more “green’ supply chain” choices.
In that context it is crucial how the current European supply chains can be influenced by the actions of port authorities and by new European initiatives in following aspects:
• Finding ways to improve the landside interaction with ports,
• Examining connectivity issues and innovative logistics concepts such as Dryports,
• Enhancing combined transport for rail, road and inland waterways to create seamless transport solutions.
Both strands add up to one central vision: tackling the important issues to improve communications and connectivity with and between ports to make things more practical for shippers and users, helping them to create more “green’ supply chain” choices.
