Modes of exploitation and manning regulations of inland waterway transportation

Similar too many industries, the state of the inland waterway transport (IWT) sector is strongly influenced by the worldwide and European economic crises. This fueled the discussion about the current modes of exploitation and the associated manning regulations for the sector on its most important river: the Rhine. These are restrictions implemented to make sailing on the river more safe. However, these regulations are also more and more seen as outdated. Therefore, a revision of the regulations is desired by many parties in the sector. This research aims on sketching a reliable image of the current frequencies of the modes of exploitation and how the barge operators decide which mode is ideal for their business. Also, the opinions of barge operators and skippers about the current regulations and possible changes are discussed. The main reasons for barge operators to choose or change the mode of exploitation are often not included in the regulations. The influence of the supply of cargo and the route to reach the destination are significant, but play no role in the current regulations. The opinions about innovation and modernization in the sector are rather mixed. On one hand, companies think modernization is not supported enough. On the other hand, not all companies think it is a good idea to trust on technology instead of manpower. A more complex framework of regulations seems to be the only way to increase flexibility