RISING - RIS Services for Improving the Integration of Inland Waterway Transports into Intermodal Chains

Project named RISING under co-ordination of the ISL has been kicked-off in Brussels.

RISING, a project co-financed by the European Commission (DG TREN) within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, has the overall objective of identifying, integrating and further developing information services such as River Information Services (RIS) in order to efficiently support inland waterway transport and logistics operations.

Within the term of 36 months, the RISING project will investigate how traffic information for logistics purposes can lead to useful solutions and services providing benefits for intermodal transport chains involving inland waterway transport.

In order to make Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) an integral part of the intermodal transport chains, this mode must be able to supply at least the same quality services (reliability and accountability) as all other transport modes. Therefore, there is a need to exploit existing and identify new types of RIS services - for almost every step of an intermodal IWT process ranging from voyage planning, monitoring transport chains using event management functionalities, services for fleet and ports to lock management processes - to further develop these services and to make them available for multimodal transport operators.

Following the RISING development phase, the results of the project will be demonstrated for different logistics chains (e.g. containers, bulk, steel) in different geographical regions covering the major European inland waterway corridors (Danube, Rhine, Scheldt, Elbe/Weser) involving manufacturers, inland shipping operators, ports, RIS operators and port information service providers.

In addition, research institutions, consultants and IT developers bring in their know-how for analysing logistics business processes, identifying bottlenecks in operation, designing and implementing IT solutions and performing cost-benefit analysis. Altogether 23 project partners from 11 European countries are forming the RISING Consortium and heading towards a successful implementation of the RISING idea.

Additional feedback from regionally organised Industry Fora and an Advisory Committee will ensure a broad awareness and validation of the RISING concepts and results.

Contact: Arne Gehlhaar

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