About Us

In times of increasing competition, thorough knowledge of the costs of using an inland vessel is of great importance. A solid understanding of likely cost fluctuations is needed during negotiations with customers (e.g. charterers, shippers) and financial institutions. Moreover, the Royal Decree that was approved in late 2013 prohibits transporting cargo through inland navigation at less than cost within Belgium. This adds to the need within the inland navigation sector for a sound cost-simulation instrument that can be used by captains of vessels of all sizes. A considerable number of new technologies are also emerging that could prove useful for inland navigation. For this sector, big data technology focuses on aspects including emissions and the reduction of fuel consumption. Would it be interesting to invest in such technology? What is the impact of these ecological and economic aspects on costs? How will they change the position of inland navigation in relation to its competitors?
To formulate answers to these questions, the University of Antwerp Department of Transport and Regional Economics (TPR) has developed an interactive online program for cost calculations in the inland navigation sector (abbreviated in Dutch to KoBi). In addition, a cost model for choice of mode (abbreviated in Dutch to MoKe) has been developed for simulating the total logistics cost, including the combination of or competition with the other modes. The cost model is based on the following definition of cost: ‘the total of all sacrifices made by the company that allow it to deliver a service or sell a product; in other words, the sum of all costs associated with delivering a service or selling a product’. (Instituut voor Wegtransport and Logistiek België (ITLB)). The development of this tool – Cost Calculation for Inland Navigation (KoBi) – was funded by the Flemish waterway manager Vlaamse Waterweg. We would like to thank experts from the Flemish inland navigation sector for their feedback and recommendations. These experts included shipowners, inland navigation organisations, charterers, shippers’ organisations and insurance brokers.