The project addresses the integration of waterborne transport into intermodal transport and logistic chains with the aim of shifting cargo from road to waterborne transport. Partners will work with logistics competencies, optimisation and marketing in the regions involved.

Road traffic is increasing faster than economic activity, leading to increased congestion and pollution in many of Europe?s cities. Much of this congestion is due to the movement of freight by road. The main aim of "Network of Regional MARitime Competence Centres II" (REMARCC II) is to create and promote competitive and sustainable intermodal transport systems in the North Sea region with waterborne transport (short sea shipping and inland navigation) as the main leg.

Expected Outcomes

The overall strategic outcomes are to develop logistics competencies, optimisation and marketing. As a result there will be improved and enhanced interaction and communication processes within regional maritime clusters. Certification systems for intermodal transport, efficient organisational processes in intermodal transport, solutions through electronic information services to optimise the supply chain, optimised use of physical transport networks and the development, establishment and improvement of transnational transport networks on a business and administrative level will also be outcomes of REMARRC II.

Activities

REMARCC is divided up into three work areas (regional strategies for logistic competencies, logistic optimisation and logistic marketing) and six practical workpackages (WP) supported by a project management package. WP 1, North Sea Logistic Cluster, analyses the interaction and communication processes among stakeholders and decision makers from industry, administration, educational institutions, transport and logistics associations. WP 2 is Organizational Knowledge Management Processes in Intermodal Transport and Logistics and will analyse knowledge management systems, requirements, tools and relevant user groups. WP 3 is Coaching and Training in Intermodal Transport and Logistics with training activities carried out with those involved in the intermodal transport and logistics sector. WP 4 is North Sea Quality Circle, and defines quality measures and performance indicators for waterborne transport services. The results of a survey and suitable benchmarks will be presented in a best-practise handbook. WP 5, Intermodal and Supply Chain Optimisation, analyses the intermodal supply chain with an assessment of port and carrier co-operations on the physical handling of freight flows. WP 6, Promotion Strategies for Short Sea Shipping and Inland Navigation in Intermodal Transport and Logistics, includes regional promotion strategies for waterborne transport. REMARCC II also plans to cooperate with the North Maritime Corridor (NMC) and other related projects.

Reported Outcomes

The project has developed a concept for an internet based promotion instrument, which has been presented and discussed among the project partners. The idea of the concept is to set up a portal about short sea shipping and inland waterways in the North Sea Region using the name www.northseashipping.org. The project aims to provide actual information, news and events about waterborne transport in the North Sea. A first version of a learning exhibit about the role and relevance of waterbourne transport in the North Sea Region has been developed. Following an invitation the exhibit was presented within a public exhibition about logistics. Having started in May the exhibition continued until October. Photos of the exhibition can be viewed at http://www.stadtderwissenschaft-2005.de/bilder_galerie.html. The project web page is also a good source for the project?s aims and activities.