Christophe Béchu, the French Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion and Patrice Vergriete, Minister Delegate for Transport, launched February 16, the development of a national river strategy mobilizing the entire sector.
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7 priority projects have already been identified:
1. increase modal shift and optimize logistical use of the large-scale network;
2. remobilize the river network complementary to the large gauge network for the benefit of freight;
3. amplify the dynamics of inland ports and the better mobilization of logistics and waterfront land to improve the sector's performance;
4. ways and means of capturing new markets;
5. modernize the image of river transport and make the sector attractive;
6. the energy transition to increase the ecological competitiveness of an already virtuous mode;
7. the development of more efficient passenger services and the river tourism sector.
This work will take place throughout the first half of 2024, under ministerial leadership, with the entire sector to bring out concrete avenues for developing the waterway and bringing together stakeholders around the valorization and use of river infrastructure.
"The French river network is an under-exploited wealth and heritage in our country. However, it represents an asset for achieving the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the context of global warming and one of the keys to increasing the resilience of water uses in many of our territories," Béchu said.
"River transport thus emits 4 times less greenhouse gas per tonne transported than current road transport and it is engaged in a process of greening the fleet, accelerated in the context of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is also a transport that does not suffer from saturation and is particularly safe." ■
A low pressure wave forming along a cold front will track across the New England coast this morning, bringing a period of rain, heavy at times for much of New England, especially for Maine today.