Pilot phase

Introducing a small fleet of +/- 30 vessels, mostly barges suitable for CEMT I and II waterways, operators and shippers are engaged to invest in the concept. As 33 ships of this capacity range were annually phased out from the Belgian fleet in the first decade of this century, this investment will only serve to cushion the continuous decline of the European fleet.

Moreover, the flows contracted to be carried by the Watertruck+ partners consist primarily of flows which are either currently carried by road transport, or which are new.

From this pilot phase we will learn:

• how the design can be optimized in terms of functionality and cost;
• what the exact operational benefits are and how they translate into USPs for the concept;

The pilot phase will furthermore serve as a showcase to convince the market of the concept’s viability.