Latest news with #NationalWaterways
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Rhenus signs MoU with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
MUMBAI, INDIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 May 2025 - Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), leading global logistics service provider, the Rhenus Group, will operate barge services in various National Waterways in India. In the first phase, Rhenus will introduce push boats and 20 flat bottom barges from Germany with a capacity of 400 tonnes, which can be combined to transport up to 1,200 tonnes per trip. As demand grows, Rhenus India will scale its fleet to 100 barges and expand its corridors across the Indian subcontinent. The partnership with IWAI aims to contribute towards building a resilient multi-modal logistics ecosystem in India, with the eventual goal of carrying over a million tonnes of cargo per year by 2025. The MoU was signed at the IWAI office on 5 May 2025 and the formal exchange of the MoU took place in the presence of the Hon'ble Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal on 6 May 2025. The Minister's presence underscored the government's strong commitment to strengthening inland waterways as a key pillar of India's logistics ecosystem. Rhenus is proud to support India's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and lead the way in shaping the future of sustainable logistics and contribute to India's logistics transformation. With over 14,500 kilometers of navigable waterways, including 111 National Waterways, India's Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector, which is governed by IWAI, has seen significant growth. Cargo volumes have increased from 30 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) in 2014 to 133 MMTPA in 2024. Rhenus India will introduce its Inland Waterways Transport solutions: barge scheduled services that will facilitate cargo transport on two Indian rivers, the Ganga River and the Brahmaputra River. These sustainable and cost-effective logistics solutions will allow for seamless cargo movements across India and beyond. In this venture, Rhenus is expanding its existing expertise for port operation and inland navigation from Europe to India. To start, Rhenus India intends to operate barge services on National Waterways NW-1, NW-2, NW-16 and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route (IBP), with plans to gradually scale up to include other national waterways in the country. A combination of pushers and barges, to suit low-draft navigation in the waterways, will be used to transport both Bulk and Break-Bulk cargo across North & East India, North-East India, and subsequently neighbouring countries. With 1,000 vessels in operations daily on all navigable waterways in Europe, Rhenus will now tap into its Port Logistics experience, in particular in European inland navigation, as well as resources from its European Waterways fleet to further support India's IWT sector. In Europe, Rhenus has been active in the inland navigation sector since its foundation year 1912. With barge shipping as its core competency, the Rhenus Group built its company and service portfolio around its logistics activities along the Rhine River and diversified them to include air and ocean freight, warehousing, road freight as well as rail, over time, becoming a worldwide logistics solutions provider. Vivek Arya, CEO of Rhenus Logistics India & Global CEO of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Intercontinental, said, "With over 100 years of dedicated expertise in inland waterway operations across Europe, Rhenus is excited to partner with IWAI in this transformative journey to create a smarter, greener and more economical logistics network. Recognizing the immense potential of India's inland waterways, we are committed to adapt our best practices to suit the Indian environment and contribute towards seamless waterway movement through our innovative solutions." Michael de Reese, Division Head of Rhenus Port Logistics, added, "Inland navigation is the backbone of the producing economy in Germany as well as in Europe. With our expertise and our broad experience in mastering challenges such as infrastructure construction, varying water levels and the training of a reliable expert workforce, we can support the growing Indian economy together with the IWAI." Hashtag: #Rhenus The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Rhenus The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 8.2 billion. 41,000 employees work at 1,330 business sites in more than 70 countries and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family-owned business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times. Rhenus
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Germany's Rhenus Group to run 100 barges on India's inland waterways
In what could be a major driver for India's underutilised inland waterways sector, one of Europe's largest riverine operators, Rhenus Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to operate 100 barges on Indian rivers. 'As part of the MoU, Rhenus will introduce 100 barges in a phased manner on national waterways, with 20 barges and six pushers to be deployed in the first phase, targeting the movement of more than one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025. The MoU will introduce inland waterways transport solutions and barge scheduled services. This will be scaled up to 100 barges within a few years to cover more national waterways under its ambit,' a statement by the shipping ministry said. The Group's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tobias Bartz, had told Business Standard in October 2024 that the company intended to invest at least $100 million in India's fledgling rivers for cargo operations — particularly project cargo. At the onset, Rhenus will operate on National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra) and 16 (Barak), as well as the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route. These operations will facilitate the movement of bulk and break-bulk cargo across North, East and Northeast India, with gradual expansion to other national waterways. 'Leveraging Rhenus' expertise in European inland navigation and a global fleet of over 1,100 barges, the partnership aims to integrate global best practices into the Indian IWT ecosystem. A combination of pushers and barges suited to low-draft navigation will be used to transport both bulk and break-bulk cargo,' the ministry said. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry, through such initiatives, is focused on unlocking the full potential of inland water transport as a national growth engine powering the hinterland towards sustainable development and vigorous growth.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Private participation will help State make optimal use of National Waterway III'
The 205-km-long Kollam–Kottapuram National Waterway-III (NW-III) and its extension from Kottapuram to Kozhikode would considerably benefit from the new set of norms that open up the country's inland water transport (IWT) sector to private participation. This finds mention in the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, formulated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The authority operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). Both IWAI officials and other stakeholders in the sector said this would help attract private investment in setting up terminals and usher in the efficient use of water transport, a hitherto neglected sector. 'Private participation would catalyse the shift of cargo transport from roads and rail to waterways in a phased manner. Roping in private players will help develop business opportunities and attract tourism players into the sector. Ultimately, this would help make optimal use of NW-III,' said A. Selvakumar, director of IWAI's regional office in Kochi. The new regulations for the establishment and operation of jetties and terminals by various entities, including private, public, and joint ventures on national waterways across the country, would help enhance infrastructure development and improve the ease of doing business. They open up new opportunities for investment, trade, and economic growth, while also improving logistical efficiency. This would considerably reduce transportation costs, streamline the movement of bulk cargo, and support the overall growth of the IWT, official sources said. As per the new norms, permanent terminals can be maintained for their lifetime by the operator, while temporary terminals will have an initial five-year term, with the possibility of extensions. The terminal developer and operator will be responsible for the technical design and construction. Maintenance dredging On concerns raised by stakeholders about the lack of a minimum two-metre depth of NW-III in Kerala, Mr. Selvakumar said that periodic maintenance dredging is done to ensure the waterway has this depth. 'An exception could be the corridor south of Thrikunnapuzha lock, where the government is building a lock gate. But there is no doubt that the movement of bulk cargo ought to shift from congested and polluted roads and highways to Kerala's inland waterways, which were used to transport agricultural and other commodities until tarred roads were built. Awareness programmes ought to be conducted, since the nine terminals on NW-III are underutilised.' Expressing concern at the next-to-nil patronage of the nine terminals, Neelakandan Unni, who had served as director of IWAI's Kochi regional office, sought speedy measures to invigorate NW-III. 'The idling terminals are proof that all is not well with the waterway, especially its depth. Most places do not have depth for barges and other cargo vessels of reasonable size. Private participation would, however, find takers in the form of operators of resorts and other tourism ventures located beside the waterway, who will be permitted to build boat jetties,' he added. A prominent tourism stakeholder said the completion of the Thrikunnapuzha lock and Kovilthottam bridge at Chavara held the key to reviving NW-III, which is part of the 205-km Kollam–Kottapuram stretch of the West Coast Canal, whose revised deadline for completion is the end of 2025.
