Technical committee for transport economics (FA Vkw)

Members

To list of committee members

Aims and tasks

• Collection of information to be able to comment up-to-date transport economic problems
• Information of the public regarding the status and future of inland water transport
• Intense discussion about economic effects of important projects and concepts concerning traffic policy, fiscal policy, energy policy and environmental policy
• Development of basic solution ideas for strengthen the transport system consisting of barges, waterways and inland ports

For this purpose the committee examines, e.g.

• Infrastructure projects in context of waterway policy
• Company- and fleetstructure
• Eco friendliness of inland water transport in comparison to other competitors
• Freight development and profitability in inland navigation
• Non-traffic functions of waterways and their benefit
• Competitive conduct of the transport carriers and the competitive position of inland navigation in comparison
• Chances of intermodality and opportunities of collaboration
• Transportdemands/-markets
• Economic-logistic organization systems and rationalization opportunities

Structure and work methods

The members of the committee represent different fields, e.g.:

• Barge companies
• Shipyard and suppliers
• Waterways and Shipping administration
• Port operations
• Engineering consultants and classification associations
• Employers mutual insurance association
• Science and research

Previous committee chairmen:
1977 bis 1987: Dr. Karl-Otto Hördemann
1987 bis 1995: Dr. Gerhard Schuh
1995 bis 2003: Konsul Prof. Dr. Gerd W. Hulsman
2003 bis 2008: Dr. Heino Schulz

Foundation of the committee : 1977

The committee meets biannual.

He picks up current problems in practice just as he initiates and pursuits generally new developments This happens through evaluation of practical experience, with the help of scientific elaboration or in connection with the execution of research assignments, in which the members of the committee or the companies/organizations behind them are involved. In this way a high scientific level is assured.

Work results

Within the committee the following publications has been developed respectively prepared:

• Statement on the need of tax exemption for gasoil
• Additional statement regarding the implementation of a petroleum tax in inland navigation
• Status of inland water transport in Europe
• The fleet, the companies and the employees in inland navigation
• The capability and profitablitiy of inland navigation
• Consequences from shifting potentials in carriage of goods
• Actionplan to activate economic ressources for the transportation system barge/waterways/inland ports

Projects

The committee deepens currently into these issues:

• Internalisation of external diseconomies and advantages
• Terminal concept for intermodal transport
• Future financing of infrastructure
• Assurance of the functionality of waterway network
• Removal of bottlenecks in the European waterway network
• Evaluation process of the cost-benefit analysis in conjunction with the update of the "Bundesverkehrswegeplan"
• Integrated traffic concept from the government of the Federal republic of Germany
• Status of inland navigation in European transport policy