In the NOVIMAR vision, future waterborne transport operations on short-sea, sea-river and inland waterways can be performed by vessel trains. Such a vessel train will consist of a number of vessels, the lead ship and individual ships with reduced crew or remotely controlled.
The NOVIMAR project aims at adjusting the waterborne transportation such that it can make optimal use of the existing short-sea, sea-river and inland waterways, thus expanding the entire waterborne transport chain up and into the urban environment.
The vessel train is foreseen as enabler for this transport system, providing opportunities for increased flexibility in cargo destinations, use of waterways and crew deployment.
NOVIMAR has a variety of research topics in scope ensuring a balanced evaluation of the foreseen transport system. In addition NOVIMAR will identify needed boundary conditions for the transport system and ongoing supporting developments in industry and other projects.
Logistics model, principles of planning and controlling procedures for vessel train networks with full vessel capacity utilisation and efficient cargo transfer from the point of origin to the point of delivery.
Assessment model for full social cost-benefit analysis and a quantitative and qualitative comparison of the developed waterborne transport systems with current systems.
Supporting tool for the assessment model for full social cost-benefit analysis and a quantitative and qualitative comparison of the developed waterborne transport systems with current systems.
Vessel train network governance principles.
Guidelines for operational safety of vessel trains, including regulatory developments necessary to implement joint operations of conventional and unmanned vessels and the corresponding human skills.
Sensors and control systems for safe and secure interaction between follower and leader vessels, including interface with shore based control centres when necessary.
Navigational aid for Inland Waterway Transportation based on the availability of real time information from vessels in combination with River Information Services and other sources to support safe route control of vessel trains in varying river, weather, traffic and other conditions.
Economically viable Roll On Roll Off (RORO) cargo system concepts for sea-river operations and corresponding RORO vessel concepts.
Handbook containing an exemplary business case and outline “start-up” for vessel trains.
Netherlands Maritime Technology Foundation
Boompjes 40
3011 XB Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Novimar works together with 22 partners from seven EU and two associated countries.
