ALICE & Waterborne partner for better maritime logistics infrastructure

An integrated, sustainable, intelligent, synchronised and optimised transport and logistics network is essential to deliver upon societal challenges as well as to enhance or increase the competitiveness of all parties involved.

The European waterborne sector will meet the demand for transport and the sustainability challenge by being environmentally friendly, by providing a seamless connection between transport modalities and by full integration with green and smart multimodal ports.

The short term development of new logistics and supply chain concepts and innovation for a more competitive and sustainable European industries is key to meet the targets set in COP21 in Paris. Amongst others, the improvement of end-to-end logistics performance by implementing the Physical Internet concept will contribute to reaching the objectives of seamless integrated transport systems and facilitate transition towards greener infrastructures and assets

In line with the political guidelines for the new European Commission as presented by Commission President von der Leyen, the cooperation between ALICE and the Waterborne Technology Platform will contribute to reaching the objectives of the European Green Deal and  A Europe fit for the Digital Age.

In view of this, ALICE and the Waterborne Technology Platform signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 November 2019. This MoU will help both parties to leverage already identified opportunities for the further integration of maritime transport and inland navigation in logistics supply chains and hinterland logistics. Furthermore, the MoU will help them both to explore the contribution of the waterborne and logistics sector in decreasing congestion in port areas as well in the overall supply chain.

Chairman of the Waterborne Technology Platform, Henk Prins, said: “In its Strategic Research Agenda, the Waterborne Technology Platform has identified integrating maritime and hinterland logistics as one of its key missions. The objective of achieving a zero-waste and zero-emission port environment, where goods and services are transmitted in a safe and secure way are of the essence for the integration of maritime transport in hinterland logistics. The cooperation with ALICE will strengthen the synergies with the key logistics players, needed to support the further integration of waterborne transport in the supply chain.”

ALICE vice-chair, Nik Delmeire said: “ALICE envisions that future logistics will be based on an open global system of systems connecting logistics networks seamlessly and founded on physical, digital, and operational interconnectivity enabling substantial increase in efficiency and sustainability. We call this vision the Physical Internet (PI). In the long run, 2050, we envision a world in which freight transport and logistics is close to zero emissions. Waterborne will be our partner in delivering this vision and to build a truly integrated transport system for sustainable and efficient logistics.”

“Ports ecosystems are key to enable the link between transport modes to create this seamless and integrated transport system. We will ensure this MoU is implemented properly in our dual role in both ALICE and Waterborne,” said Salvador Furio, Corridors, Hubs & Synchromodality chair in ALICE and Chairman IRAG Port & Logistics in Waterborne.

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