Due to the large volume of goods transported on a shipping unit (cargo vessel or pushed convoy), inland navigation vessels are ideally suited to the transportation of bulk goods. In addition, favourable transport costs, in comparison to road and rail, mean that this mode of transport is ideal for the transportation of low value goods.
The great capacity of inland navigation ships is currently utilised predominantly by the metal industry (steelworks), agriculture and the mineral oil industry.
Metal industry: Inland navigation is generally regards as an extremely important mode of transport for the steel industry. For example, approximately 25-30% of the total amount of the raw material ore is transported on the Austrian stretch of the Danube. Moreover, due to their heavy weight, finished goods such as steel coils are also economically transported via inland navigation (10-15% of total volume).
Agriculture: Agriculture and forestry products, as well as foodstuffs and animal feed, transported on the Austrian stretch of the Danube amount to 2 million tons per year. Many companies dealing with agricultural products or work in the field of processing of agricultural products are located directly on the banks of the Danube.
- Source: PBV
Mineral oil industry: Petroleum products account for approximately one fifth of all goods transported on the Danube and represent a significant share of the market. Several refineries are situated in the Danube region, either close to the river itself or an adjacent river or canal. Due to their great capacity, low transportation costs and high level of safety, next to pipelines, inland navigation vessels are predestined to become a significant mode of transport for mineral oil products.
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