Organised between 29-30 October in Budapest, Hungary, the Danube Ports Days 2024 was a valuable opportunity to discuss the future of sustainable port development. Hosted by the Danube Commission and supported by EU-funded projects such as MultiRELOAD, the Green Inland Ports Study, SYNERGETICS and the Danube Ports Network, the event brought policymakers, industry leaders and experts together to discuss innovative solutions to achieve climate neutrality within inland ports.
During the first day, experts weighed in on how ports can contribute to multimodal transport, including a demonstration of digital tools which improve multimodal corridors. Experts then participated in a panel discussion about innovations and the importance of inland ports in transforming the transport sector overall. The second session provided a forum through which participants discussed practical applications of multimodal systems, showcasing various terminal and logistics providers.
The second day of the event was dedicated to digitalisation. Presenters introduced tools and strategies for measuring environmental impacts, including emission calculators and digital challenges specific to inland ports. This was followed by a panel session that investigated strategies to achieve emission targets, featuring insights from key European projects on zero emissions in river transport.
Marta Wolska, representing DG MOVE, European Commission, highlighted the importance of inland ports in the EU’s transport infrastructure, stating that “Inland waterways are nothing without ports. These ports are essential within the EU’s trans-European transport network (TEN-T). They need efficient hinterland connections, particularly to rail infrastructure and trans-shipment facilities, to ensure smooth connections and increase their share of freight transport.”
Echoing the critical role of IWT in Europe’s green transition, Dr. János Kerékgyártó, Deputy State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport highlighted: “European waterway transport, with a well-functioning port infrastructure, is an essential cornerstone for developing an environmentally conscious and sustainable combined freight transport system.”
On behalf of the event’s host, the Danube Commission, Director General Manfred Seitz remarked, “The Danube Ports Days 2024 unites policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to discuss concrete solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of port operations, enhance digitalisation, and improve emission measurement. Hosting this event reaffirms our institution’s commitment to promoting sustainability and innovation within the sector.”
Turi Fiorito, representing the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP), underscored the significance of cross-sectoral collaboration: “Collaboration is invaluable as we must ensure continued support for the success of the Rhine-Danube Corridor.”
The event finished with the Danube Networking Cruise, a social highlight which encouraged meaningful discussions on the greening of Europe’s transport systems.
Learn more about the event by downloading the press release below.