DIWA masterplan: steering inland waterway transport into the digital future
Inland waterway transport plays a key role in the transport of goods within Europe. This mode of transport has many advantages: it is safer, more environmentally friendly and frees up road capacity.
The aim of DIWA is to further digitalise inland waterway transport and integrate it more fully into the European logistics system.
Prioritising inland waterway transport in Europe
The many benefits of inland waterway transport deserve a spotlight on the European transport sector stage. Digitalisation could deliver a future where this form of navigation becomes more accessible, easier to manage and seamlessly integrated into the larger transport ecosystem.
The digitalisation of inland navigation will also reshape the logistics sector into a more flexible entity with more transport options. In the long term, this will have a knock-on effect on production, consumption and employment, boosting the European economy in the process.
Digitalisation also aligns with the Digital Single Market Strategy, echoing the EU’s policy to digitalise the market wherever possible.
Masterplan: laying the digital infrastructure for Europe’s inland waterways
At the heart of DIWA’s efforts is a masterplan, a blueprint for building a basic digital infrastructure for Europe’s inland waterway network. The project will offer a comprehensive vision and strategy for digital transformation, backed by the 5 waterway agencies and packed with practical proposals ready for implementation.
The masterplan will provide a knowledge base and understanding of how we want to shape this transformation. It will help us understand what we and our neighbouring countries seek to achieve in terms of the digital transformation.
Masterplan: shaping policies and setting standards
By improving waterway transport, the masterplan has the potential to influence EU policy and serve as a blueprint for other stakeholders committed to digitalising inland navigation. The masterplan pays heed to the key requirements of this digital transition, namely cybersecurity, standardisation and legislation.
This approach ensures a safe, regulated, and harmonised journey into the digital future of inland waterway transport.
Project period
2019-2023
European programme
Project website
Partners
De Vlaamse Waterweg, Bundesministerium für Verkehr und Digitale Infrastruktur DIG, Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie
