Overview
One vessel equates to roughly one hundred road trucks. Water transport can therefore, help to de-congest the road network.
The objective of EU CARGOXPRESS was to develop a ground breaking innovative cargo vessel to meet the expectations of green transport and contribute to de-congesting Europe's roads. It gave particular attention to the role of SMEs.
Delivering the cargo vessel design for the future is particularly suited to the small and medium sized European shipyards and equipment suppliers.
The vessel concept of EU-CARGOXPRESS goes far beyond existing approaches. It also promotes a logistic philosophy which has the potential to revolutionise the Short Sea Shipping business. The project was to develop a high tech vessel for medium and small marine or fluvial ports. Road transport starting from these small ports would considerably shorten the travel time. This would clearly impact on CO2 and other pollutant emissions.
The first calculations have shown a potential fuel saving of 10,3 Mt/year. This will account for 0,63% of the total EU25 energy consumption per year, when applying the concept to the next 3,000 new builds for Short Sea Shipping.
Funding
Results
The EU-CARGOXPRESS developed a sustainable and competitive cargo vessel for medium and small marine or fluvial ports. This new cargo vessel was developed to meet the expectations of green transport contributing to the decongestion of the European Roads and the pollution abatement.
One hundred trucks can be replaced by one cargo vessel which saves a large amount of fuel, significantly reduces CO2 and NOx emissions, stops contamination at ports due to electric power systems, has low maintenance costs and requires a smaller crew size.
One vessel compared to 100 trucks saves:
- 80% of fuel
- 96% of CO2
- 98% of NOx
- No port contamination, maneouvering and leaving port because of battery-power
- With fuel cells coming up in the future, inefficient piston engines will be eliminated
- Massive reduction of coastal road transport
Technical Implications
A sustainable and competitive cargo vessel for medium and small marine or fluvial ports was developed.
Strategy targets
Innovating for the future: technology and behaviour: Promoting more sustainable development