The H2020 Novimar project introduces the innovative concept of vessel trains (VT) that resembles the concept of truck platooning and aims “to adjust the waterborne transportation such that it can make optimal use of the existing short-sea and inland waterways and vessels (…)’. The triple bottom line performance of the concept is assessed and compared to the performance of the current transport system. This paper focuses on the economic performance and sets the foundations for its measurement by 1) describing the current situation of inland navigation, shortsea shipping and sea-river transport; 2) analysing the railway and road operations as the main competitors so as to take lessons; 3) presenting a review of the data sources available with respect to cargo flows and collecting the current cargo flows that will be used to set up the Origin-Destination (OD) matrix of the Antwerp case, 4) determining the geographical scope of a second case study area; 5) conducting a literature review of supply chain performance indicators (PIs) and 6) identifying the key PIs. The results will be input to the Novimar transport system model based on which the new VT concept will be evaluated compared to the current transport system. ... Read more

The H2020 Novimar project introduces the innovative concept of vessel trains (VT) that resembles the concept of truck platooning and aims "to adjust the waterborne transportation such that it can make optimal use of the existing short-sea and inland waterways and vessels (…)'. The triple bottom line performance of the concept is assessed and compared to the performance of the current transport system. This paper focuses on the economic performance and sets the foundations for its measurement by 1) describing the current situation of inland navigation, shortsea shipping and sea-river transport; 2) analysing the railway and road operations as the main competitors so as to take lessons; 3) presenting a review of the data sources available with respect to cargo flows and collecting the current cargo flows that will be used to set up the Origin-Destination (OD) matrix of the Antwerp case, 4) determining the geographical scope of a second case study area; 5) conducting a literature review of supply chain performance indicators (PIs) and 6) identifying the key PIs. The results will be input to the Novimar transport system model based on which the new VT concept will be evaluated compared to the current transport system. ... Read more

This paper firstly explains the consequences and possibilities of environmental measures in the RoRo shipping business. Next, technologies for dealing with the environmental issues are financially evaluated. Thirdly, the possible retrofitting technologies are evaluated from an aggregate viewpoint. From a private cost perspective, it is found that as long as the LNG prices are decent in combination with an acceptable distribution system, changing main engines from diesel-fuelled towards dual-fuel engines could result in a win-win solution. However, finding private investors could be a problem. Given the latter, some shipping lines may ignore the new regulation; especially since for most retrofit solutions, the private return on investment is negative. As opposed to this, the societal return is positive, hence, the question becomes how government can support the implementation of these solutions. The last part of the paper examines incentives to reduce CO2 emission for existing ships with a view to encouraging ship-owners to integrate such emission reduction into their business objectives at the least cost ... Read more

This book models price behaviour and forecasts prices in the dry bulk shipping market, a major component of the world shipping industry. Recent uncertainties in the world economy, shipbuilding developments and fleet changes mean the dry bulk shipping market has become extremely volatile, highly speculative and more sensitive to external shocks. In response to these challenging circumstances, this book models price behaviour and forecasts prices in various markets including the freight market, the new build ship market and the second-hand ship market. The authors have carried out an extensive investigation of dry bulk shipping over a 60-year period in diverse sub-markets, trading routes, market conditions and dry bulk vessels. The authors also propose a framework for analysing and modelling the economic processes of numerous variables in the dry bulk shipping market, making use of modern econometric techniques and other economic approaches. This will be especially useful for the control and assessment of risk for ship owners and charterers in ship operation, ship chartering and ship trading activities. This book will be extremely useful for shipbuilders, owners and charterers, as well as shipping analysts and policymakers. It will also be of great interest to academics and researchers concerned with the economics of the shipping industry ... Read more