IRIS Europe 3

Implementation of River Information Services in Europe 3

Aims

The system designed and developed within the NAWVAT project is used to measure the distances between a barge convoy hull or passenger vessel hull and the surrounding riverside infrastructure. The integration of the computed distances into a standard Inland Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is carried out within IRIS Europe 3 project.

Brief Description

The sections where the waterways get narrower or are closer to riverside infrastructure represent the most dangerous ones in inland waterway transport, i.e. approaching river locks, berths, pontoons and passing under bridges. The skippers of barge convoys or passenger vessels must pay much more attention when they reach or pass through these areas to avoid any accident or collision.

In order to support the skipper to take right navigation decisions when he reaches these dangerous sections, a system was designed and developed within the NAVWAT project, which provides accurate and reliable navigation information in a kind of visual guidance system. Based on the information about the river infrastructure and the convoy itself, distances between them are measured and shown on Inland ECDIS navigation display. Thus, the skipper has a better overview of the whole situation and by knowing these distances he can perform correct manoeuvres in order to avoid any collisions or accidents.

A real-time testing campaign was organized in September 2014 on the Danube River in three countries: Hungary, Austria and Romania. Reports and video record files about the test campaign can be found on the IRIS Europe 3 project website.