In November 2024, the zero-emission vessel Green Wave completed a successful test sailing in Ghent, demonstrating innovative and sustainable urban logistics. The vessel, part of the Urban Waterway Logistics initiative, transported construction materials from OVB, a construction material dealer in northern Ghent, to the city center’s historic Great Butchers’ Hall (Groot Vleeshuis). The event was coordinated by project partner Peter Geirnaert.
Revitalizing Waterways for Freight Transport
The construction materials delivered during the test sailing are being used to renovate the roof of the Great Butchers’ Hall, a 15th-century former covered market that once played a key role in Ghent’s inland port. Located along the river De Leie, the Hall is currently closed for urgent restoration work. This test sailing is part of a broader effort to revive Ghent’s waterways for freight transport, helping to reduce road congestion and support the city’s sustainability goals.
A Milestone in Sustainable Construction Logistics
The City of Ghent, responsible for the restoration project, is committed to sustainable delivery methods. To meet this goal, the Green Wave urban vessel was chosen for transporting the materials. Goods were loaded at a collection point outside the city center and transported via the waterway. After a two-hour journey, 15 pallets of materials arrived at the Great Butchers’ Hall and were unloaded with a tower crane. The vessel’s design is tailored to navigate Ghent’s infrastructure, including passing under bridges, making it an ideal solution for urban freight.
Future plans include using urban vessels to deliver more construction materials and utilizing return trips to remove yard waste—further advancing circular and sustainable logistics.
Engaging Stakeholders in the Construction Sector
One of InnoWaTr’s main goals is to engage stakeholders in the construction sector to adopt urban vessels for sustainable freight delivery and waste removal. Test sailings like this one aim to showcase the feasibility and benefits of shifting freight transport from road to waterways, inspiring broader adoption of this innovative approach.
About InnoWaTr
The InnoWaTr Project, partly funded by the Interreg North Sea Programme and Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, focuses on collaboration and innovation among stakeholders to promote a shift from road to inland waterways. In East Flanders, the project highlights city freight distribution via waterways, with a special focus on construction logistics, waste logistics, and agrilogistics.
Interested in Test Sailings?
Are you interested in exploring sustainable logistics through test sailings for construction logistics, waste logistics, or agrilogistics? Feel free to reach out to us via the contact page. Together, we can work towards a greener future.
A big thank you to Peter Geirnaert for organizing this important event and to all the stakeholders involved for their dedication to innovation and sustainability.
