The industry as well as the European Commission has launched a number of initiatives that, when brought to fruition, will raise the level of competitiveness of seagoing and inland waterway transport modes. These initiatives include the development of new technologies for the achievement of better vessel turnaround times and faster cargo flows. The scope of this work is to present the innovative concepts and technologies (in pilot, study, or even conceptual phase) that have been investigated for implementation in European seaports and barge terminals. The presentation includes a technical description of each system, identifying its structural elements and stressing its unique characteristics. Finally, a decision table is formulated to assist selection based on a number of criteria--loading unit type, productivity, throughput, compatibility with existing transshipment forms, automation level, and implementation stage.
Abstract