As InnoWaTr moves further into its final phase, several Freight Flow Coalitions (FFCs) are showing steps forward in reshaping urban logistics through inland waterway transport. The Dutch, Belgian and French FFCs are exploring real flows, testing vesselsand uncovering valuable lessons that help move the transition to cleaner transport steadily ahead.
FFC4 Netherlands – Blue Lane living labs for zero emission transport
FFC 4 is developing a set of building blocks that support zero emission waterborne transport. These include modular electric pushers, battery swapping solutions, digital planning tools, and circular shuttle services. All building blocks are tested and further developed within regional Blue Lane Living Labs where public and private partners collaborate on real freight flows.
Progress and insights
Two fully electric E-Pushers are in production the river Zaan since 2024 for the transport of cocoa beans and. The first operational results from electric pushers in the Netherlands are very promising. They show that it is technically and financially possible to shift significant volumes from diesel driven motorships to emission free E-Pusher-Barge combinations.
Next steps
The next phase focuses among others on the design of the Harbour Shuttle Rotterdam. This is a new service that will move both container flows and waste streams in a clean and frequent shuttle. A Letter of Intent was signed between the relevant freightflow coalition partners and when the shuttle goes into production the new service can be used as living lab to test innovations and new tools. A first innovation is the introduction of a AI based planning tool to optimize the operation of pusher/barge combination.
FFCs 5, 6 and 7 Belgium – urban waterborne logistics in Ghent
FFC 5, 6 and 7 test waterborne distribution for construction materials, waste streams and agrologistics in Ghent. Their work includes test sailings with small urban vessels, market analysis, and the setup of the Everstein distribution hub.
Progress and insights
The construction pilot for the Groot Vleeshuis renovation confirmed that materials can be delivered effectively by water, despite delays caused by planning, weather and budgetary constraints. Waste logistics pilots revealed strong interest but also practical constraints such as limited quay access, short distances to recyclers and infrastructural bottlenecks. The earthmoving test at Everstein is a notable result. Moving one thousand tons of soil by vessel avoided numerous truck trips and offered clear evidence of operational feasibility.
Agrologistics pilots, including floriculture, food and beverages distribution, highlighted the challenge of fragmented demand and limited stakeholder readiness. The beverage use case remains under study, supported by growing insights into last mile access, lock openings and quay conditions. Currently, alignment with stakeholders in the beverages sector is taking place.
Next steps
The Belgian FFCs continue expanding the Everstein hub concept, preparing additional waste flow tests and identifyingopportunities for beverage transport. Different test sailings without cargo took place testing concepts of highly automatedsailing and platooning.
FFC 8 France – Zero emission urban flows on the Seine
FCC8 is currently trialing the innovative H2 propelled ZULU barge to move building materials between Gennevilliers and central Paris. The coalition aims to demonstrate greener logistics using alternative fuels and strong collaboration among transport and regulatory partners.
Progress and insights
Building material flows remain highly sensitive to market demand. The coalition highlights the ongoing challenge of attractingnew customers, largely due to the high cost of green fuels and limited supporting infrastructure. Safety concerns have alsocontributed to delays, particularly regarding the deployment of a hydrogen-powered barge in a city-centre environment.
Currently, hydrogen costs reach up to €9/kg and must be sourced from regions such as Belgium or Brittany, further constrainingoperations. The FFC8 vessel is expected to generate comparative data before the project’s conclusion, enabling an assessment against conventional fuel alternatives. In parallel, Fludis will deploy the Zulu 06 in Paris for training purposes.
Despite these constraints, progress across work packages remains steady, with data collection, business modelling, andcommunication activities largely completed.
Next steps
Upcoming actions include a regulatory webinar, further roadmap development and follow up with two newly identifiedpotential customers.
A Strong Joint Effort Toward Cleaner Cities
Across the Belgian and French FFCs, the past months reveal much creativity and determination. Some pilots progress quicklywhile others require continued exploration, yet each contributes valuable knowledge to the wider InnoWaTr mission. With everytest and every stakeholder reached, we build a clearer path toward cleaner and more resilient urban logistics.