FAIRway Danube – Coordinated deployment of the Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan for the Danube and its Navigable Tributaries (EUSDR Strategic Project)

August 11, 2017in Projects 0 Likes

BASIC  PROJECT  DATA

Project ID: PA1A108
Project website: www.fairwaydanube.eu

NEED  AND  ADDED  VALUE  FOR  THE  DANUBE  REGION  STRATEGY

“Solving the obstacles to navigability, taking into account the specific characteristics of each section of the Danube and its navigable tributaries and establish effective waterway infrastructure management by 2020” is among the targets of Priority Area 1a of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region. The Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan (FRMMP) set out the necessary actions in order to reach recommended Levels of Service. The FRMMP was endorsed by the majority of Transport Ministers of the Danube Region on 3rd December 2014 and set out in the accompanying conclusion document. The Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T Regulation) requires Member States to upgrade a so-called TEN-T Core Network by 2030, so that minimum requirements for the transport infrastructure are fulfilled.

The FRMMP is mentioned in the Work Plan of the European Coordination for the Rhine-Danube Core Network Corridor. Accompanied by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) of the European Commission, the project has been carried out in a harmonized way in 6 countries: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. The Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) together with via donau – Austrian Waterway Company undertook the joint project coordination.

 

 

OBJECTIVE(S)  OF  THE  PROJECT

Within six years, from July 2015 to December 2021, FAIRway Danube significantly improved the level of information on the Danube fairway. The main objective was the provision of reliable, harmonized and up-to-date information on shallow sections, water levels and water level forecasts. In order to be able to survey regularly and to collect comparable data along the Danube, suitable surveying instruments and vessels were purchased in Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria. Additional automatic gauging stations were also deployed in the course of the project.

Based on that, waterway administrations were able to optimise the fairway routing and design appropriate rehabilitation measures. The project partners made the gathered information on the fairway available to the public and the users of the waterway.

The pilot operation of new and harmonised services for waterway users and the possibility of actively participating and contributing to the definition of technical requirements and operative processes were essential elements of FAIRway Danube. Therefore, the involvement of all relevant stakeholders has been the core of the evaluation of the pilots.

 

 

PLANNED  PROJECT  ACTIVITIES

  • Update national action plans regularly (twice a year, October and May)
  • Concerted purchase of advanced equipment for hydrological services (37 gauging stations, 5 surveying and 4 marking vessels)
  • Carry out pilot activities and evaluate results:
    • Collection of basic data for all critical sections of the Danube waterway
    • Analysis and evaluation of the data collected as basis for coherent monitoring of the navigation status
    • Harmonised water level forecasts
    • Optimised routing of the fairway based on current depth measurements
  • Develop innovative approaches in the area of aerial monitoring, modern Aids to Navigation, and any other supporting tools for fairway rehabilitation
  • Pre-feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the lock-chambers of Gabčíkovo (already completed) and the upgrade of the Lower Váh (ongoing)

A final movie summarising the project results was published in January 2022.
FAIRway Danube (2015-2021) Documentary

TRANSBOUNDARY  IMPACT

The Danube region including navigable tributaries.

By preparing the implementation of the Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan, the proposed study enhanced a coordinated approach in solving navigability problems along the entire Danube and navigable tributaries. As a result, the waterway as an economic lifeline has been improved.

 

 

PROJECT  BENEFICIARIES  /  TARGET  GROUPS

Waterway administrations within the Danube Region. The outcomes of the study led to benefits for commercial waterway users.

 

 

STATUS  AND  TIMEFRAME

Start date: 01.07.2015
End date: 31.12.2021

The project duration was extended from June 2020 to December 2021.

The project has already been concluded.

 

FINANCING

Total budget: 23,400,000 EUR
EU funds: 19,600,000 EUR are funded by Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2014 – 2020
National funds: 3,800,000 EUR

 

 

PROJECT  TEAM

Project leader: bmvit – Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology and via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft mbH
(website: www.viadonau.org)
Address: Donau-City-Straße 1, 1220 Wien / Austria
Contact person: Andreas Bäck
Contact data: ; +43 5 04321 1609

Project partner(s): 

  • SK: Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic
  • HU: Hungarian Ministry of National Development
  • HR: Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure
  • BG: Executive Agency For Exploration And Maintenance Of The Danube River (EAEMDR)
  • RO: Administratia Fluviala a Dunarii de Jos R.A. Galati (AFDJ) and Administrația Canalelor Navigabile (ACN)

 

 

PROJECT  ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT  CROSS – REFERENCE

NEWADA (PA1A005), NEWADA duo (PA1A015), Danube STREAM (PA1A126)

 

STRATEGIC  REFERENCE

“Solving the obstacles to navigability, taking into account the specific characteristics of each section of the Danube and its navigable tributaries and establish effective waterway infrastructure management by 2012” is among the targets of Priority Area 1a of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region. The Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan (FRMMP) set out the necessary actions in order to reach recommended Levels of Service.

 

RELEVANT  LEGISLATION

TEN-T Regulation, The Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T Regulation) requires Member States to upgrade a so-called TEN-T Core Network by 2030, so that minimum requirements for the transport infrastructure are fulfilled.

 

OTHER

Fairway Rehabilitation and Maintenance Master Plan / EUSDR PA1a

Conclusions on effective waterway infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance on the Danube and its navigable tributaries, Danube Ministers Meeting, Brussels, 3rd December 2014.

The FRMMP was endorsed by the majority of Transport Ministers of the Danube Region on 3rd December 2014 and set out in the accompanying conclusion document.

 

 

EUSDR  EMBEDDING

 

 

EUSDR  COMPLIANCE

 

 

OTHER  RELEVANT  ISSUES

PROJECT  REQUIREMENTS

Active participation and involvement of key stakeholders. This organised by a high-level advisory board and a waterway user forum.

European and national co-financing for the procurement of equipment as well as for follow-up works is essential.

 

FOLLOW – UP  PROJECT

The project is embedded within European policy initiatives, international agreements and legal framework. It makes use of the Connecting Europe Facility, but also the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The activities of NEWADA duo and its follow-up are complementary to the investment-focussed CEF-Study.

 

ANY  OTHER  ISSUES

The project is planned to be strategically guided by an Advisory Board (PAC1a, Member States, Danube Commission, Sava Commission, Inland Navigation Europe), as well as a Waterway User Forum (Pro Danube International, etc.).

 

 

META  DATA

Data provided by: Gert-Jan Muilerman (viadonau, Austria) – 22.01.2015
Last update by: Andreas Bäck (viadonau, Austria) – 10.06.2020

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