WATERBRIDGING

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

WATERBRIDGING boosts the sustainability and the seamless integration of the maritime and inland waterways (IWW) connecting the Adriatic-Ionian (AI) region, to enhance the Motorways of the Sea (MOS) as efficient and smart alternative to land transport. The project insists on the indicative action “Enhance the development of the Motorways of the Seas (MoS) concept as an alternative to overstretched land transport (…)”. WATERBRIDING strengthens the role of the AI waterways as a bridge for the connections within the territories of the macro-region and beyond, by upgrading the environmental and digital performance of maritime and IWW nodes involved. The project faces common challenges such as disruption of the logistics transport chain and the still limited application of environmental approaches that hinder the creation of a seamless and competitive waterborne transport system as pursued by the EUSAIR flagship. In fact, the integration of digital services based on real-time data collection is a pre-condition to reduce the fragmentation of the logistics chains, while the exploitation of alternative fuels and OPS technologies for the greening of the waterway transport is a common challenge to contribute to the decarbonization of transport. To overcome the challenges, the partnership develops traffic flows studies, preparatory studies and Pilot Actions on two pillars: digital services for seamless integrated A-I MoS and IWW and sustainable practices for decarbonization of A-I MOS and IWW. The Outputs consist in the co-design of 12 Pilot actions on deployment of alternative fuels and OPS and on application of digital services to improve the integration of IT systems, and to 14 codeveloped solutions as leverage for concrete investments of the pilot actions. The partnership sets up the Adriatic-Ionian MOS and IWW Network and adopts a transnational strategy and action plan to pursue the common sustainability and seamless goals also after the project.

PROJECT GOALS

Through the formal adoption, via the signature of a MoU, of the Adriatic-Ionian SMART MOS and IWW transnational strategy (Output 3.1) and transnational action plan (Output 3.1), WATERBRIDGING contributes to the shaping of transnational programming tools on the topic of decarbonization and seamless integrations in the waterway, maritime and inland, transport system of the EUSAIR region. The joint vision and common targets of the strategy and the action plan will contribute to orient the investment decisions in the maritime and inland waterway transport towards the achievement of the Eu targets in terms of sustainable transport and to improve the efficiency, the integration and the resilience for future external shock o calamities of the EUSAIR waterway transport system.

PROJECT LEAD

Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Centrale / Central Adriatic Ports Authority – (ITA)

PROEJCT PARTNERS

1.     IGOUMENITSA PORT AUTHORITY S.A, (GR)
2.     CENTRE FOR RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY HELLAS, (GR)
3.     INTERMODAL TRANSPORT CLUSTER, (HR)
4.     PORT OF SPLIT AUTHORITY. (HR)
5.     University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – Skopje, (MK)
6.     Science and Technology Park Novi Sad, (RS)
7.     Port of Bar JSC, (CG)

This project is co-funded by the European Union.