North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands are jointly testing solutions for a sustainable, digital and more resilient inland navigation system.
The battery-electric research vessel NOVA has departed from Düsseldorf for the World Port Days in Rotterdam. Along its route on the Rhine, it will serve as a meeting place for stakeholders from science, business, and administration at several stops.
The focus is on questions surrounding automated and, in the future, autonomous driving, alternative propulsion systems, and the further development of ports and digital infrastructure. Researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen and the Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems are investigating, under real-world conditions, aspects such as energy consumption, safe navigation, and network coverage along the waterway.
The voyage builds on the long-standing cooperation between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands in the field of mobility and logistics. It aims to provide impetus for climate-friendly, competitive, and resilient Rhine shipping. During the World Port Days from September 4th to 6th, the NOVA will be open to visitors in Rotterdam as a floating research platform.
Source: www.umweltwirtschaft.nrw.de
