The Port of Hamburg authorities have reported that during the first quarter of 2008, a total of 2.96 million tonnes of cargo were transported in the hinterland using inland waterways.
This represents an increase of approximately 8 per cent year-on-year. The main types of cargo, in addition to coal, were petroleum products, ore and growing numbers of containers.
A statement said that around 30,400 TEU were carried on inland waterways during the first three months of the year, an increase of over 40 per cent compared to 2007 and a new record in the history of the Port of Hamburg.
Ever since containers were first carried on barges on inland waterways in the 1990s the volume of cargo carried using this means of transport has been rising continually. Today 15 scheduled liner services for containers link Hamburg with numerous inland ports along the Elbe River and the Mittellandkanal. Inland-waterway barges also play an increasingly important role in moving containers between the various terminals in the Port of Hamburg.
Meanwhile port-related industries are developing concepts designed to further grow the share of inland waterway shipping in the modal split in future. The view taken here is that there are still vast reserves to absorb the projected growth in cargo transhipments, the release said.
This was demonstrated at a recent workshop held in Hamburg as part of the port's research project, "Binnen Land," sponsored by Germany's Federal Department of the Economy and Technology, whereby participants supported efforts to further strengthen inland waterway shipping through improvements in customs clearance, processing and marketing.
Proposals for specific measures are to be drafted over the coming months, with particular focus on boosting the transportation of containers further. A number of inland waterway ports are supportive of this development as it is in line with their efforts to play a greater role in the hinterland traffic to and from the Port of Hamburg.
This represents an increase of approximately 8 per cent year-on-year. The main types of cargo, in addition to coal, were petroleum products, ore and growing numbers of containers.
A statement said that around 30,400 TEU were carried on inland waterways during the first three months of the year, an increase of over 40 per cent compared to 2007 and a new record in the history of the Port of Hamburg.
Ever since containers were first carried on barges on inland waterways in the 1990s the volume of cargo carried using this means of transport has been rising continually. Today 15 scheduled liner services for containers link Hamburg with numerous inland ports along the Elbe River and the Mittellandkanal. Inland-waterway barges also play an increasingly important role in moving containers between the various terminals in the Port of Hamburg.
Meanwhile port-related industries are developing concepts designed to further grow the share of inland waterway shipping in the modal split in future. The view taken here is that there are still vast reserves to absorb the projected growth in cargo transhipments, the release said.
This was demonstrated at a recent workshop held in Hamburg as part of the port's research project, "Binnen Land," sponsored by Germany's Federal Department of the Economy and Technology, whereby participants supported efforts to further strengthen inland waterway shipping through improvements in customs clearance, processing and marketing.
Proposals for specific measures are to be drafted over the coming months, with particular focus on boosting the transportation of containers further. A number of inland waterway ports are supportive of this development as it is in line with their efforts to play a greater role in the hinterland traffic to and from the Port of Hamburg.