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intermodality
Intermodality involves the transportation of freight in a container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transporation (rail, ship and truck), without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. It allows for the creation of a highly efficient system enabling goods to be transported in containters that are easily interchangable between multiple modes. It offers the seamless transfer between mode by purpose-built lifting gear. Intermodality requires a co-operative approach where shippers, freight operators and customers all accept and invest in strict industry standards in container design and appropriate infrastructure. Intermodality's benefits include a reduction in cargo handling, damage and loss, improved security, and, in many cases, cutbacks in cost.
ciproc project
Sea and Water was recently involved in the second phase of CIPROC (Co-operative Intermodal Promotion Centres), a six-month European project which examined the feasibility of extending the activities of existing mode-specific promotion centres in Europe to encompass the wider concept of intermodal transport. Six European organisations were involved: PTV Planug Transport Verkehr AG (Germany), Shortsea Promotion Centre Finland, Shortsea Promotion Centre Holland, Shortsea Promotion Centre Lituania, Shortsea Promotion Centre Romania and Sea and Water.
The CIPROC project concluded in June 2008 but all participating short-sea promotion centres continue to incorporate intermodality in their promotional activities.
intermodal promotion
As an Intermodal Promotion Centre, Sea and Water aims:
- to increase awaresness of intermodal transport among shippers and forwarding agents and logistics providers
- to provide shippers with information on the many varied possibilities of intermodal transport within Europe, especially with regard to intermodal door-to-door transport
- to analyse the problems which might affect intermodal transport (within the limit of given resources), in order to ensure it competes on equal footing with pure road transport
- to set up and maintain a database on intermodal transport liner services
- to be a source of objective freight and transport information for trade, industry and government
page last updated: 19 August 2008 |
