How does the European Union justify this intervention in the market, while regarding measures requested by the sector, they always stated market interventions are not allowed?

Watertruck+ aims at introducing an economically feasible alternative for road transport via a flexible model of waterway transport that is complementary with the present waterway transport.

The aim of the project is to use the new Watertrucks on freight flows that are not transported by the existing fleet of operators not participating in the project. This means that there is no intervention with the existing market. Moreover, we expect an increase in the market share of inland waterways in the European modal split.

As an example, Waterwegen & Zeekanaal (W&Z) has engaged in moving goods via Watertruck+ for the project ‘Nieuwe Stede’, consisting of 415.00 tonnes of soil spread over 7 years for the first  test case . If it was not for Watertruck+, these loads would have been transported by road.