PRESS RELEASE: Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten starts innovative project in sustainable cargo transport with Urgenda
With sustainable mobility becoming more important by the day, and the natural developments of the Eastern Wadden Sea imposing increasing restrictions on ferry services, Wagenborg Passenger Services and Urgenda will jointly investigate new methods and techniques to deliver supplies to the Wadden Islands. Ultimately, this should lead to a truckless system, to be in place by 2024.
The draft of vessels is becoming an increasingly important factor in maintaining service, due to accelerated sedimentation. “One possible solution is to limit the number of trucks on our ferries. This gives less draft and has a positive effect on the environmental impact. We are delighted to join forces with a renowned and innovative party such as Urgenda in our efforts to play a pioneering role in innovating and changing (cargo) transport to Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. Of course we will do this in close consultation with all the parties involved, as the plans cannot be realised without them,” says managing director Ger van Langen of Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten.
Municipalities are increasingly closing their territories to (cargo) vehicles that still emit harmful gases. In Groningen, for example, the ban will come into effect in 2025, and the trend is that other municipalities will follow. The cooperation between Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten and Urgenda hopes to contribute to this development.
Urgenda is the national organisation for sustainability and innovation and wants to accelerate the sustainability effort in the Netherlands, together with companies, governments, social organisations and individuals. Together with frontrunners and people who have a fresh and different look on things, Urgenda shows that sustainability is not only necessary but also innovative, inspiring and profitable.
On 14 July, Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten and Stichting Urgenda signed a cooperation agreement that forms the basis for the realisation of this sustainability ambition.
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