"The impact of competition, business models, infrastructure investment and public owned

hinterland ports for the development of inland

navigation“

by Boris Kluge,German Promotion Center for Intermodal

Transport

Inland Waterways

• As alternative to road and rail transport of container

• Crucial part of European transport infrastructure

• Support the European industry in the global competition

• UNECE member states have important role

• Duty to guarantee fair competition and indiscriminate access to inland waterways

• Support business developments and develop inland waterway infrastructure where demanded

deepening waterways extensions of locks investment in new generation of inland vessels

Ownership of inland ports

• Ownership of inland ports by communities, countries or regions should be seen as a great advantage

• Mixed-up of handling of container, bulk cargo and liquid cargo

• Sustainable financial background by state authorities

• Availability of real estate for settlement of industry (shipper) with intermodal access

• UNECE member states can support this model

• But operations of ports can be privatized

Inland port operator

• Competition of operators of inland ports and navigation with low prices and flexible offers

• Wide range of operators of navigation and ports with different business models

• Successfully integrate additional parts of supply chain

• Value Added Services like stuffing, stripping, repairing, customs declaration etc.

• Benefits for their customers

• One-hand-service or one-stop-service

Inland port operator

• Two typical approaches for inland ports :

• Stand-alone port operator to mostly exclusively service for their regional intermodal transport partners (duisport)

• Networks of inland ports and navigation to provide synergies for productivity and efficiency (neska)

• Both approaches are sufficient and necessary

• Other approaches as well important

• Cooperation with seaports at eye level

• Ocean Carrier , 3Pl and seaports like to control the supply chain

• For protection for M&A – Inland port public ownerships is vital

UNECE support

• Improving of inland waterways according the AGCT standards

• Privatize inland port operators (not ownership)

• Deregulate inland navigation operation on inland waterways

• Enhance investments in logistic affine real estate in inland ports

• If appropriate safe port ownership for M&A