• Introduction by European IWT Platform, outlining the workshop’s goals, structure
• Brief presentation on the overview of the PLATINA4Action and Synergetics Projects by EICB

Description: This session offers an in-depth exploration of the policies and programs supporting the greening of inland waterway transport (IWT) in Belgium and France. Representatives from federal, regional, and national levels will provide concise presentations, outlining their specific strategies and the support mechanisms available for advancing greening initiatives within the sector. Also, as a background information, presentations by representatives of national associations of shipowners and ship operators from Belgium and France will be discussing the fleet composition, number and type of vessels, age, current status of greening, number of employees, and the key challenges faced in transitioning towards greener operations will be made.

• A series of targeted presentations (09:20 – 10:20)
  • Belgium’s Strategy for Greening IWT:
    • Presentation by a Belgian Federal Representative on national strategies and green initiatives.
    • Regional Representatives from Flanders and Wallonia discuss specific regional policies and status of implementation.
  • France’s National Strategies for IWT Greening:
    • A French policy maker details legislative measures, financial incentives, and examples of successful green technology implementations.
  • Joint Q&A Session (10:20 – 10:40)
    • A combined Q&A session for representatives from Belgium and France, allowing attendees to ask questions that address both regional and national efforts, facilitating a deeper understanding of the comparative approaches and shared challenges

• Belgium’s Presentations (11:00 – 11:40)
  • Flanders (11:00 – 11:20):
    • A representative from Flanders will discuss the region’s fleet composition, including the number and types of vessels, the age of the fleet, current greening status, number of employees, and the specific challenges faced in transitioning towards greener operations.
  • Wallonia (11:20 – 11:40):
    • A representative from Wallonia will present details about Wallonia’s fleet, highlighting the unique challenges and initiatives specific to Wallonia in greening their inland waterway transport sector.
  • France’s Presentation (11:40 – 12:00):
    • A French representative of the Shipowners association will provide insights into France’s fleet characteristics, ongoing greening initiatives, and the operational challenges in adopting zero-emission technologies, offering a perspective on national strategies and implementations.
  • Joint Q&A Session (12:00 – 12:15):
    • A combined Q&A session for representatives from Belgium and France, allowing attendees to ask questions that address both regional and national efforts, facilitating a deeper understanding of the comparative approaches and shared challenges.

Description: This session shall present three different greening solutions which can function as model cases for fleet greening. The presented solutions shall differ in the type of vessels, operational profile, greening technology/alternative fuel. In the three showcases, the technical challenges of implementing the chosen solution will be discussed in detail. The audience will be able to learn about the experiences of the shipping companies and technology providers that have implemented the technical solutions in a lively and practical way. With this kind of know-how transfer, the shipping companies should learn from the experiences of the innovation pioneers in the design and implementation of the greening measures. Likewise, the three showcases should provide insights into the implementation risks, costs and commercial perspectives of the chosen solutions, as well as the benefits achieved in terms of the greening objectives etc.

The showcases shall focus predominantly on retrofitting solutions but also could include one solution for a new-built vessel.  From the viewpoint of greening technologies, the following solutions are preferred for the use as showcase:

1. electrification of ship by means of full battery drive or by means of hybridization of the main propulsion system
2. adaptation of ship for use of drop-in biofuels (HVO/FAME)
3. Hydrogen as fuel, both fuel cell electric applications and for combustion engines

The selection of the showcase by the involved countries/regions shall relate to the priorities of greening and/or recently implemented successful cases

Proposed Case Studies:

• Proposed Technology A/alternative fuel A – depending on priorities and available success stories (45 min presentation including Q&A)
• Proposed Technology B/alternative fuel B – depending on priorities and available success stories (45 min presentation including Q&A)
• Proposed Technology C/alternative fuel C – depending on priorities and available success stories (45 min presentation including Q&A)

Closing Session – Key takeaways and Next Steps (IWT Platform)

Additional Features

• Exhibition Space: An exhibition space featuring booths from technology providers, offering live demos and further information on their products and services.