Green Shipping
Environmentally Friendly Shipping – the Danube on the path to climate-friendly mobility
Inland waterway transport is already one of Europe's most energy-efficient modes of transport today. However, to meet the European Union's climate targets, shipping must also make its contribution.
viadonau supports this transformation by developing sustainable infrastructure, promoting innovative technologies, and cooperating with partners from business, research, and public administration. The goal is a shipping sector that combines environmental responsibility with economic performance.
Why does shipping need new solutions?
Climate protection
At the core is the reduction of CO₂ emissions along the entire transport chain. Switching to alternative fuels — such as hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), methanol, or hydrogen — along with the gradual electrification of ship propulsion systems, makes it possible to significantly reduce the ecological footprint of inland waterway transport. Danube shipping is already today one of the most climate-friendly modes of transport per tonne transported.
Efficiency
Technological innovation plays a decisive role in making optimal use of resources. More modern vessel technologies improve energy efficiency, while optimized route planning reduces travel times and fuel consumption. Digitalization — for example through intelligent traffic management and data-based logistics solutions — further helps to make better use of capacity and avoid empty runs.
Future-proof infrastructure
For the Danube to continue serving as a reliable transport route in the future, resilient infrastructure is needed. This means: waterways that remain functional even under changing climatic conditions — such as fluctuating water levels — targeted measures to adapt to climate change, and sustainable, resource-efficient operation of locks, ports, and hydraulic structures.
Only the interplay of these three areas — climate protection, efficiency, and future-proof infrastructure — makes inland shipping on the Danube a load-bearing pillar of a sustainable, European transport transition. Investments in these fields of action strengthen not only environmental protection but also the competitiveness of the waterway as a transport corridor of the future.
Our focus areas
Fleet decarbonization
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a central challenge for shipping. Together with European partners, viadonau is working on solutions for modernizing existing vessels and integrating alternative propulsion systems.
These include:
- Low- and zero-emission propulsion technologies
- Alternative fuels and energy carriers
- Energy-efficient vessel concepts
- Retrofitting of existing fleets
- Digital systems for optimizing energy consumption
Sustainable infrastructure
Climate-friendly shipping requires modern framework conditions. That is why viadonau is continuously developing infrastructure along the Danube.
Key focus areas are:
- Shore power supply for berths
- Use of renewable energy
- Reduction of noise and air pollutant emissions
- Intelligent infrastructure for efficient operations
Digitalization for greater sustainability
Digital solutions help plan transport more efficiently and conserve resources. Better data availability makes it possible to optimize journeys, reduce waiting times, and lower energy consumption.
viadonau is therefore committed to:
- Digital information systems for shipping
- Intelligent traffic management
- Data-based route and schedule planning
- Networking along international transport chains
Resource protection and circular economy
Sustainability doesn't end with propulsion. Responsible resource management also includes waste prevention, recycling, and the protection of sensitive ecosystems along the Danube.
viadonau is committed to:
- Environmentally sound ship waste management
- Prevention of water pollution
- Efficient resource use
- Sustainable operating processes
SYNERGETICS
As part of the EU-funded SYNERGETICS project, hydrogen dual-fuel engines are being tested on a crew transfer vessel, while methanol-based propulsion is being developed for a chemical tanker. The feasibility of a fully electric propulsion system based on interchangeable battery packs is being demonstrated on an inland waterway container transporter, while the electrification of the main propulsion system is being evaluated on a cement freighter. In addition, energy management systems for hydrogen fuel cells are being developed. Hydrodynamic improvements will be demonstrated on an inland vessel for dry cargo. The Catalogue of technical solutions for decarbonisation, the Handbook for vessel owners and the Scenarios for policy-makers, which are produced as part of the project, will accelerate the transition to more environmentally friendly modes of operation.
PLATINA
PLATINA4Action is a strategic project for the sustainable development of inland navigation in Europe and as such is part of the Horizon Europe programme. It supports the European Commission in the implementation of the NAIADES European Action Plan, which aims to make inland navigation more sustainable.
WP3 develops and implements an emission labelling scheme for inland waterway vessels to promote transparency and incentivise the introduction of clean technologies. By creating a clear and standardised framework, the label will encourage greener investments, support emission reductions and facilitate compliance with EU environmental policy.
WP4 focuses on identifying, evaluating and supporting the introduction of innovative zero-emission technologies and solutions for inland navigation. The aim is to overcome barriers to implementation through the development of business models, action plans and pilot projects to ensure that these technologies can be introduced on a large scale and make inland navigation more environmentally friendly and sustainable - and to support the development of innovative zero-emission technologies and solutions for inland navigation.
WP5 identifies technology gaps, assesses the maturity of emerging innovations and analyses funding mechanisms needed to support their development. By identifying the areas where investment and research are most urgently needed, the aim is to accelerate the market maturity of sustainable solutions and drive the transition to greener inland navigation.
Platina 3 is the platform for the implementation of the NAIADES III Action Programme. The main objective of the project was to make the bridge towards future research, innovation and implementation needs in inland navigation in Europe. Structured around four fields: Market, Fleet, Jobs & Skills, the project addressed four priority topics for the success of inland navigation:
- Integration & digitalization of IWT in view of modal shift & synchromodality;
- Zero emission, automated & climate resilient fleet;
- Skilled workforce anticipating to zero emission & automation;
- Smart & climate resilient waterway and port infrastructure with clean energy hubs.
The main outcomes of the project were:
- strategic network of key stakeholders based on intensive, structured exchange;
- Roadmap and Implementation Plan for Research & Development for IWT;
- Policy Implementation Plan for IWT.
Selected project results with relevance to climate change and inland navigation:
- D2.2 Options for shallow-water / climate resilient vessels
- D 4.1 Climate change adaptation strategies - information package for European inland waterway and port infrastructure managers
ECCONET
The ECCONET project examined the impact of climate change on inland navigation in Europe with the emphasis on the Rhine-Main-Danube corridor. For this purpose, the results of existing studies were integrated with newly carried out research to develop new meteorological and hydrological calculations and trend analyses. The study focused on, among other things, ship operations, ship engineering, hydraulic engineering activities and methods for the prediction of water conditions.
EWENT
The EWENT project was launched in 2009 and examined the effects of extreme weather events on transportation systems in the European Union. The aim was to identify risks and consequences for the transport sector and determine the financial consequences. Measures were developed to better manage extreme weather events and recommendations were formulated for decision makers from business, infrastructure management and politics.
MOWE IT
MOWE IT was initiated as a result of the EWENT 2012 project. The focus of the project was the identification of "best practices" and the development of appropriate strategies to support transport companies, government agencies and users of the respective transport systems as much as possible.
The aim was to develop appropriate strategies to reduce the impact of natural disasters and extreme weather events on transport services and infrastructure as much possible. The project was coordinated by the Technical Research Centre of Finland and 12 European research institutes and companies from 8 countries, including viadonau.
The recommendations for the inland navigation sector are summarised in the “Guidebook for Enhancing Resilience of European Inland Waterway Transport in Extreme Weather Events”.
Supergreen
In Project SUPER GREEN a number of representatives from European transport corridors analysed ways to improve the environmental performance of the European transport system. The selected corridors were subjected to benchmarking, taking environmental aspects, infrastructure parameters, exhaust emissions and also external and internal costs into consideration. Finally, the utilisation of "green" technologies on the selected transport corridors was also analysed.
