Challenge

The Flemish Waterway wants to set up a demo project to convince the inland navigation sector of the possibilities of alternative propulsion and fuel for inland vessels. For this they want to either purchase a new vessel to be built or have one of the vessels in their possession, converted.

Changing fuel and propulsion brings not only the technological challenge but also important preconditions regarding infrastructure for the alternative fuel/energy supply and regarding the financial and regulatory framework.

Through the implementation of the project, The Flemish Waterway expects to arrive at an assessment framework that, among other things, indicates which factors determine whether the conversion of a vehicle is financially feasible. And this with attention to the different alternative fuels and propulsion, the regulatory framework and the requirements of infrastructure adaptation. The demo project will then be both the practical test of this framework and an example to the sector. As an alternative fuel, hydrogen will be the main focus, but the project will also investigate other (combinations of) alternatives.

This project fits within the mobility policy of the Flemish Government to stimulate inland navigation as an alternative mode of transport and within the sustainability of inland navigation which should be emission free by 2050.