When you think of transporting goods, you probably picture lorries and motorways, but what if the answer to greener, more efficient transport was already flowing quietly through our towns and countryside?
Inland waterway transport (IWT) — moving goods by rivers and canals — is one of the most CO2-efficient transport modes per ton of goods carried, using only 17 % of the energy needed by often-congested road transport and 50 % of rail transport.[1]
Despite EU and national support, the share of inland navigation in the overall EU transport sector has stagnated at 6 % since 2007. Initiatives like NAIADES III, a 35-point action plan established by the European Commission to boost the role of inland waterway transport, highlight the urgent need to shift towards waterways for reducing CO2 emissions.
The Interreg NWE project WISTAR addresses this priority by harnessing the potential of inland waterways for small rural businesses in Normandy, Île-de-France (FR), the Ruhr area (DE), and the Walloon Region (BE). By promoting energy-efficient and sustainable inland waterway transportation, WISTAR aims to enhance the economic potential, growth, and development of these regions.
Over the past year, project partners have worked together on innovative strategies for sustainable logistics in the IW of North-West Europe. A key document resulting from this transnational cooperation is the recently published Strategy for implementing green transportation concepts by using inland waterways. This report includes a market demand analysis in Germany, France, and Belgium, an evaluation of transport infrastructure and renewable energy options for IWT, mapping of transshipment points, and requirements for successful implementation.
Zoom on Caen
FROM SEA TO PLATE, JUST ONE ECO-FRIENDLY STEP
In France, partners explored the feasibility of using the 15 km Canal de Caen to sustainably transport fresh scallops from Ouistreham to Caen restaurants. It all begins at the fishing port of Ouistreham where the NEAC electric platform collects seafood. A sensor provided by the project partner Multitel monitors the cold chain, ensuring real-time tracking throughout the multimodal logistics process. CIRCOE, the project's logistics partner, analyses, quantifies and optimises the carbon footprint of urban freight transport. Upon arrival at the Caen Marina, the final mile is completed by cargo bike to reduce the environmental impact through a city often burdened by congested road networks. The closest restaurateurs can even collect their goods directly from the port. The WISTAR partnership demonstrated that the same transport route by conventional diesel van would emit 42 kg of CO₂, compared to just 2 kg with the electric platform. These results from Caen support the development of eco-friendly transshipment hubs in the Ruhr and Wallonia, enhancing logistics and promoting low-carbon transport.
Looking ahead, the WISTAR project will provide valuable insights into the feasibility and transferability of this concept across European waterways. In this context, the University of Duisburg-Essen explores alternatives for connecting rural and agricultural areas along the Lower Rhine with the metropolitan Ruhr, aiming to develop new, adaptable, energy efficient and sustainable transport networks in Germany.
Voices from Caen
Romain Bail, Mayor of Ouistreham
What is interesting in this European project is that it is directly based on a proper living lab. We are testing different actions locally with different people all along the canal between Ouistreham and Caen Urban Area, which means that we're able to follow step by step the project and we're also involved in each step to make sure we know what we are facing and what we need in our territory. Basically, the first idea tested locally was the fishermen project with two local restaurants. And this is exactly what we need; first, to make sure local members of our community will be involved and second, WISTAR pushed us to develop new projects. We started to reflect on two aspects: tourism and mobility. We could organise, for example, in our local boat club, a transport for tourists from one place to another with one local ticket and make sure that they will discover the area not from the city onto the land, but onto the canal, and make sure that we have another point of view based on our local history and this specific geographical aspects.
Stéphane Carbone, Owner of L'espérance restaurant
This system is a working tool that enables me to be in direct contact with my fishermen and place the orders online based on my needs, then they drop it off in the Ouistreham port, and it will be delivered directly at 4 am at my restaurant. It is a big change as I am used to driving my refrigerated van for 2 hours every morning to go buy ingredients. This will eliminate the need for intermediaries and transporters. It saves time which is essential for the quality of our dishes for us restaurant owners, and it also allows to save money which means the customers will end up paying less. There's a whole story to be told, from fishermen to plate, via the small project boats, and that can be extended to France and even Europe as a whole.
WISTAR key figures
- 7 partners
- 3 countries: Belgium, France, Germany
- Cooperating from 2024 to 2025
- Budget: €800k
Learn more about WISTAR
[1] Inland waterway transport in the EU, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/698918/EPRS_BRI(2022)698918_EN.pdf