Novel iwt and maritime transport concepts (NOVIMAR). (NOVIMAR)

NOVIMAR aims to adjust inland/short-sea shipping such that it can make optimal use of the waterborne system of waterways, vessels and ports/terminals. To achieve this NOVIMAR introduces the waterborne version of 'platooning', the Vessel Train. This is in essence a number of unmanned Follower Ships with own sailing/manoeuvring capabilities being temporarily led by a manned Leader Ship. Vessels will be able to join and leave such trains at places adjacent to their points of origin and destination at seaside or inland. Envisaged main benefits and impacts are: reduction of crew costs result in up to 47% total cost reduction for IWT and up to 88% crew cost reduction for short sea transport, enhanced logistic flexibility, 10-15% less energy use/emissions, solutions for overcoming barriers betrween transport modes and high potential for reducing road congestion and associated costs.

Keywords:MARITIME TRANSPORT, TRANSPORT ECONOMICS

Disciplines:Applied economics, Economic history, Macroeconomics and monetary economics, Microeconomics, Tourism

Project type:Collaboration project