Following on the success of last year’s “river dating” event, VNF will hold the second in its series of intermodal meetings in Colmar on 8th and 9th December 2009.
This is the first time that a truly integrated international intermodal event has been held. The choice of location suits the intermodality of the event, as Elzas is a region that lies between Germany, Switzerland the Benelux.

The meeting will further publicise the fact that inland navigation is an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to road and air transport, stimulated by the European Union and supported by programmes such as NAIADES. It will bring into contact international companies who want to use inland navigation as part of their logistics options. Thierry Duclaux Genreal manager of VNF says “to position inland navigation as an essential part of the transport sector, harbours need to strengthen their role as intermodal and international transshipment areas. They need to emphasise effective combinations of inland navigation, road and rail in their strategic development.”
Over two days shippers and skippers from inland navigation and rail will have meetings with one another in individual meeting rooms, as per a previously arranged meeting schedule. During the event there will also be presentations about combined logistics solutions, innovations in inland waterways and using waterways to transport recycling material.
Many businesses are interested in sustainable logistics solutions such as inland navigation, but don’t know how to contact the necessary specialists in transport. This meeting will bring them together and inspire new logistics project, in France and in Europe.

For more information www.vnfintermodalmeetings.com