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First European Inland Terminals Conference & Exhibition in Duisburg sees delegates praise quality of speakers

Nearly all delegates of the first European Inland Terminals Conference and Exhibition that was held on 27 and 28 September last in Duisburg (home of Europe’s biggest inland port “duisport”) had one comment in common: the majority of the presentations was very informative and innovative. Speakers ranged in nationality from German, over Belgian, Dutch , Austrian, Chinese, American to French and this broad variety together with different economical backgrounds helped to ensure that all angles were covered. Some new elements were added to the discussion and the panels at the end of each session were beleaguered with questions.

Led by conference chairman Karel Vanroye (Buck Consultants International) whose wit and expertise were well received by a nonetheless critical and knowledgeable international audience, the 6 different sessions looked at market perspectives, network and infrastructure, value chains, innovation, inland navigation from a seaport perspective, and lastly policy. At the end of the second day chairman Vanroye had this to conclude:

• First event on inland terminals. However, terminals are part of a larger intermodal network.
• Rail complements waterways. Tri-modal solutions should be actively promoted.
• Need to increase integration of operations between terminals and seaports. Bottlenecks have to be solved urgently.
• External factors becoming more and more important for the development of the inland navigation networks. The inland terminal network should be developed taking into account these factors impacting on freight demand and freight services.
• The freight market is changing. Traditional bulk cargoes will relatively decrease in future years. General cargo and containers will become more important. Opportunities should be looked for in specific market segments (niches). Innovation is crucial on different levels: a) Service – b) Operations – c) IT – d) Network: hub and spoke
• Reflection on new infrastructure and transport system. Basically, two fundamental approaches should be taken into account: the logistics approach (filière logistique) vs. the Supply Chain Management-approach. The latter deals with reducing costs throughout the chain, the former looks at the effects of infrastructure on the regional economy.
• Clever investments are needed to complete the network, solve the bottlenecks and complete the harmonization.
• Interoperability and interconnectivity are key for a performing European Transport System.
• Enhancement of innovation through different approaches and strategies will increase the hinterland penetration rate of inland navigation: push barges (Waterslag/ECSWA), sea-river shipping, etc.
• Collaboration between terminals will increase efficiency of hinterland transport. Hinterland terminals have become real logistics hubs and cooperation should be broader than transport.
• Need for information is crucial. One intermodal access point (portal) to a specific market is required.
• River Information Systems contributes to the transparency of and collaboration within the logistics demand chain and should, therefore, be implemented throughout the EU.
• Implementation of EU policy on national level is sub-optimal. Moreover, increasing frictions between transport and environmental policies (Natura 2000) occur.
• Different inland shipping markets with own characteristics and needs, exist throughout Europe.

As much as the conference delegates were satisfied with the international mix of speakers and attendees, so also the exhibitors expressed their appreciation of the visitor mix. The organisation chose not to charge visitors to come and see the exhibition provided they would register in advance. This advance screening ensured a high quality of visitors, so much so that many exhibitors afterwards claimed to have made some very valuable new contacts. No wonder that more than half of the companies present at the show already vowed to participate again come next time.

The positive comments of speakers, delegates, exhibitors and visitors have left the organisers but one way to go: prepare a second edition of this new event. The first difficult step having been taken successfully, the second one will undoubtedly lead to an even bigger and better event.