GRENDEL

GRENDEL - GREEN AND EFFICIENT DANUBE FLEET

Funding stream:
Danube Transnational Programme 2014-2020

Short description:

There are severe barriers for the adaption of the Danube IWT fleet to the forthcoming European ITW and environmental policy objectives. Some of the contributing factors for these barriers include: long service life of inland vessels; high investment costs; low re-investment capacity of the Danube fleet operators; knowledge deficits about green technologies and a lack of public actions & incentives.

The GRENDEL project supports the Danube vessel fleet operators and their public counterparts in modernization of the sector. GRENDEL addresses various fleet modernization aspects: use of low carbon & alternative fuels, reduction of air pollutant emissions and overall energy consumption. Efforts are directed toward better integration of the Danube IWT into logistics chains through new services, digital data provision as well as dedicated tools to improve efficiency of fleet operations. The project's overall goal is the improvement of the environmental and economic performance of the Danube fleet. This will be achieved through three specific objectives:

1. Know-how transfer for Danube fleet operators with the help of intensive transnational collaboration between private & public stakeholders and targeted know-how transfer activities to overcome the existing knowledge gap, lack of activities and absence of instruments to deploy innovative solutions.

2. Elaboration of innovative technical vessel concepts and improved transport & logistic management processes of fleet operators to strengthen the competitive position of inland navigation and to exploit its market potential.

3. Supporting development of favourable regulatory framework & specifically-designed public support measures by introducing Model State Aid Scheme & innovative financial instruments clearly addressed towards the needs of the sector.

Period of implementation: June 2018 - November 2020