Inland navigation must enhance its service quality in order to gain from the increasing transport demand in Europe. This requires mainly the provision of reliable fairway conditions and innovative information services. Telematics information services to support traffic and transport management (River Information Services - RIS) will compensate the information weakness of inland navigation. RIS provides fairway users and authorities with geographical, hydrographical and administrative information by means of standardized Electronic Navigational Charts. Temporary restrictions of fairways are published by means of language-independent Notices to Skippers. Dangerous cargo transportation is announced electronically, enabling authorities to be prepared for calamities. Vessel tracking and tracing enhances lock, bridge and terminal management as well as law enforcement. In addition to these basic services, e-transport applications provide advanced services for governmental and commercial users. To promote the harmonized implementation of RIS, the European Union established the legal framework in September 2005. This comprises of binding rules for onboard equipment and data exchange as well as the minimum requirements for future RIS implementations. Austria will be the first country to comply with this European legislation. The Austrian RIS system provides Electronic Navigational Charts including water depth data and Notices to Skippers electronically. Inland automatic identification system (AIS) transponders are used for vessel tracking and tracing; electronic reporting of dangerous cargo is possible electronically. The full implementation of RIS on the Danube (9 countries, 2400km) is expected in 2008. This will improve safety, efficiency, environmental friendliness of inland navigation and contribute towards modal shift.
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