Project Mission

Europe’s freight transport system has much room for improvement. Congestion, capacity problems and delays affect mobility and economic competitiveness and are detrimental to the environment and quality of life.

Growing overseas trade and EU enlargement towards Central and Eastern Europe are key economic factors which have a great impact on freight transport volumes in Europe; According to forecasts, freight transport volumes are expected to increase by one third until 2015.

Present patterns of transport growth and the reliance on road transport have lead in many regions to congestion and pollution, the cost of which are expected to double to 1% of Europe’s annual GDP by 2010. Source: Communication from the Commission on the promotion of inland waterway transport “NAIADES”

Shifting transport to less energy-intensive, cleaner and safer transport modes is a main concern of the European Union: the EU has committed itself to pursue the goal of promoting the use of transport modes which are less energy-intensive, cleaner and safer. Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) is an obvious choice to play a more prominent role in reaching these targets.

In this view of this situation, all modes must become more environmentally friendly, safer and more energy efficient as well as easily compatible in the transfer points. Co-modality, i.e. the efficient use of different modes on their own and in combination, will result in an optimal and sustainable utilisation of resources. Together with other modes, Inland Waterway Transport can contribute to the sustainability of the transport system.

What is RIS?

River Information Services (RIS) are modern traffic management systems enhancing a swift electronic data transfer between water and shore. Their progressive deployment across Europe shows waterway management is in transition. From being a public aim in itself, the waterway authorities evolve toward a more service-oriented management taking into account user needs. An EU framework directive ensures compatible systems across borders.

The in-advance and real-time exchange of information makes inland waterway transport a very safe, secure and reliable mobility option. The planning opportunities created by RIS also will yield major benefits in terms of sustainable logistics, because RIS enables supply chain actors to participate in intelligent information routing and optimising resource allocation. The RISING project is currently investigating how traffic information for logistics purposes can lead to useful solutions and services providing benefits for intermodal transport chains involving inland waterway transport.

RIS means the harmonised information services to support traffic and transport management in inland navigation, including interfaces to other transport modes. RIS aim at contributing to a safe and efficient transport process and at utilising the inland waterways to their fullest extent. RIS can be distinguished by the following:

  • Rivers in the context of RIS include all types of inland waterways, e.g. canals, lakes and inland and sea ports, too.
  • RIS is also the generic term for all individual information services to support inland navigation in a harmonised way.
  • RIS collect, process, assess and disseminate fairway, vessel movement, vessel traffic and transport information.
  • RIS are not dealing with internal commercial activities between one or more of the involved companies, but RIS are open for interfacing with commercial activities, as far as requested by commercial partners and when the competent authorities are able to provide this information.

(source: CCNR RIS Guidelines)