The MultiReload project's participation in the Danube Commission's Expert Group on Ports was a recent highlight of the project, offering a platform to unveil significant findings regarding containerized transport on the Danube, showcasing its untapped potential, challenges, and most importantly, opportunities. Despite the Danube's pivotal role in European waterway infrastructure, container transport along its stretch remains to a large extent underutilised.

The study brought to light a critical aspect of sustainable freight logistics, highlighting the immense opportunity for growth in Danube container transport. By examining the European Union countries situated along the Danube, the study revealed that even a modest 5% shift of their tonne-kilometers from road to inland waterways could yield a remarkable 47% increase in freight transport along the Danube.

This insight not only underscores the significance of the Danube as a key component of Europe's transport network but also signals a potential paradigm shift in freight logistics, with inland waterways poised to play a more prominent role in the region's transportation landscape. The findings presented at the expert group meeting pave the way for further exploration and development of strategies to capitalise on this untapped potential, driving sustainable and efficient freight transport practices along the Danube.

MultiRELOAD unites a consortium of ports, cutting-edge technology, logistics and service providers, leading European research institutions, and well-connected networks. Their mission? To drive a profound modal shift towards sustainable transport, achieve a radical enhancement in supply chain efficiency, and promote capacity-sharing in critical Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) corridors, specifically the Rhine-Alpine and Rhine-Danube Corridors.

duisport - Duisburger Hafen AG, with its international connectivity and reputation as a digital innovation trendsetter in global logistic supply chains, takes center stage in the MultiRELOAD project. Collaborating with Hafen Wien GmbH and Schweizerische Rheinhäfen - Port of Switzerland, they're leading the way in transforming inland ports into carbon-neutral hubs. This transformation involves rigorous testing, demonstration, evaluation, and rollout of highly innovative multimodal freight solutions across seven distinct demonstrations, each falling under the three thematic innovation areas mentioned above.

The MultiRELOAD project calls for the establishment, implementation, and evaluation of demonstrators by regional consortia. These groups consist of port authorities, operators, technology and service providers, and research organisations. The result? A significant boost in flexibility, service visibility, and an impressive average cost reduction of freight transport by approximately 10%.

MultiRELOAD's solutions will progress towards solid business plans and models, setting the stage for widespread adoption, and thereby enhancing the overall market maturity. The project leverages the expertise of two established business incubators, startport GmbH in Duisburg and thinkport VIENNA - smart urban logistics, to nurture new services and startups focused on intelligent multimodal solutions.

But the innovation doesn't stop there! MultiRELOAD actively involves a wide array of end customers, including logistics service providers, freight forwarders, and cargo owners, through the MultiRELOAD User Forum. Their involvement ensures that these groundbreaking solutions are market-ready and meet the needs of the logistics industry. Join us at the Transport Research Arena (TRA) and find out more about the achievements of this groundbreaking project!

This virtual symposium unites three EU-funded projects — AWARD, MultiRELOAD, and FOR-FREIGHT — each pioneering in advancing port operations through automation. This 90-minute interactive session will not only showcase these projects’ innovative solutions for enhancing port efficiency, safety, and sustainability but will also engage participants through live polls, Q&A sessions, breakout discussions, and networking opportunities. The event will culminate in a panel discussion on the future of technology in ports, emphasizing collaborative insights and participant-driven topics. Prepare for an engaging experience that invites your active participation and input, shaping the future of automated port operations together.  Dive in, collaborate, and co-create the future with us! 

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