Flanders Inland Navigation Services Platform

After consultation between the Department of Environment, Nature and Energy and the Department of Mobility and Public Works a shore power coordinator was appointed who originated from the Ports and Water Policy Division which comes under the Department of Mobility and Public Works. A shore power platform was established with all parties concerned. The first shore power platform took place on Tuesday 12 June 2012. The shore power platform resulted in a substantially enriched and reinforced partnership approach and coordination. That is why it was decided to extend the shore power platform to other services, viz. waste collection and drinking water. This led to the creation of a Flanders Inland Navigation Services Platform.

Read more in the vision note pdf.gif 416 kB

 

Objectives

The Flanders Inland Navigation Services Platform aims to bring together all inland navigation stakeholders to promote the interests of the services for inland navigation in a coordinated manner and to work on the realization of several objectives and challenges, namely :

 

  1. to continue to build a network of suitable berths and rest areas with adapted facilities for barges;
  2. to optimize, report and stimulate the use of services for inland navigation;
  3. to improve communication and the image of inland navigation as a sustainable and environment-friendly mode of transport;
  4. to facilitate and foster innovations relating to services for inland navigation.

 

Activities

The platform coordinates:

  1. the initiatives of waterway managers and port authorities to fulfil the obligations regarding service provision;
  2. the vision on inland navigation infrastructure services (design, management and maintenance);
  3. the compilation of a composite index map with existing service facilities;
  4. annual reports on waste delivery and the consumption of drinking water and shore power.

The platform provides information:

  1. It gives an overview of developments in policy and practice.
  2. It offers a state of affairs of actions regarding services.
  3. It highlights current affairs.
  4. It provides an index map of existing service facilities.
  5. It refers to publications, articles, thematic information packages.
  6. It refers to the annual reports on waste delivery and the consumption of drinking water and shore power.
  7. It communicates on study days and international partnerships.

The platform is a point of contact:

  1. The parties concerned can submit any questions or remarks regarding shore power, waste collection and drinking water facilities.

The platform promotes the use:

  1. It is directed at anyone looking for information about the services provided.
  2. It makes available tools and information about good practices.
  3. It standardizes and harmonizes the management and payment systems of the different types of services.
  4. It offers campaign material for awareness-raising actions.
  5. It works on an upgrade of inland navigation within the logistics chain.