Waterborne Technology Platform
The European Community’s WATERBORNE Technology Platform is a project initiative which brings together academics, companies, research institutions, the financial world and the regulatory authorities at the European level to define a common maritime research agenda to mobilise a critical mass of - national and European - public and private resources. Launched in January 2005, it builds on the successful efforts of the Maritime Industry Forum (MIF) in publishing two volumes of maritime R&D Master Plans since 1994. The MIF developed a vision of the year 2020 (Vision 2020) which is now being followed by WATERBORNE. This takes into account global issues, trends and driving forces influencing the development of waterborne transport and the implications on the maritime and other related industries. In order to maintain Europe’s position as a maritime superpower, the Vision 2020 Report sets out targets which need to be met.
The WATERBORNE TP itself has developed a WATERBORNE Strategic Research Agenda (WSRA) that addresses the R&D required up to 2020 to achieve the Vision which is its consensus of opinion of the innovation, research and development required to achieve the Vision 2020 targets. The WSRA addresses the innovation challenges in the next 15 years.
The three main areas to be addressed to achieve the vision, with typical examples of the R&D topics in each, are listed below:
1. Safe sustainable and efficient waterborne transport operations
- Zero accidents target
- Crashworthy vessel
- Low emission vessel
- Enhanced waterborne security
2. A competitive European maritime industry
- Innovative vessels and floating structures
- Innovative marine equipment and systems
- Tools for accelerated innovation
- Next generation product processes
- Effective waterborne operations
- Technologies for new and extended marine operations
3. Management and facilitation of growth and changing trade pattern
- Accelerated development of new port infrastructure facilities
- Interoperability between modes
- More effective port infrastructure
- Intelligent transportation technologies and integrated ICT solutions
- Understand environmental impact of infrastructure building and dredging
- Traffic management systems
In addition to the above R&D topics, issues such as education and training, standards and regulations, defence of intellectual property rights, political frameworks and policies will also be addressed.
The following documents have been published to date on the way forward:
· WATERBORNE Vision 2020 Brochure – stakeholders medium and long term vision to 2020
· WATERBORNE Strategic Research Agenda Overview Brochure -presents the R&D steps to achieve the targets set in the Vision 2020.
· Waterborne Implementation Route Map - provides a "route map" to implement the WATERBORNE Strategic Research Agenda and achieve the long term Vision 2020 targets.
Official Website: www.waterborne-tp.org
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